In Australia and other developed countries, the conversation around mental health has dramatically changed over recent years – more awareness, less stigma, greater help-seeking. However, from this, a question has emerged: Are we increasingly medicalising normal human experiences, such as stress, grief, and sadness?

This article explores whether we have unintentionally created systems that view people’s needs primarily through a medical lens, making diagnosis the main pathway to support, and the effects this can have on individual agency and resilience. The article emphasises the importance of creating systems that can distinguish between low wellbeing and mental illness and connect people with the support they need.