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PaperclipPerfector  22hr ago (text post)   3410 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of August 25, 2025

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I think the author is making a somewhat more reasonable point than "we shouldn't have to worry about the bill" - it's that they shouldn't be having such a worry added on last-minute to the existing worries of a surgery! Maybe it shouldn't be called "mental health", but what would you prefer for such a reasonable ask?

Maybe it shouldn't be called "mental health", but what would you prefer for such a reasonable ask?

Not who you're talking to, but I believe a good word for this is "stress", which most people recognise as something that can play a part in adverse health outcomes. The possibility that the medical system might just saddle you with a gigantic, life-ruining debt by surprise and with no recourse would make absolutely be a significant source of stress.

Maybe it shouldn't be called "mental health"

That's my point, and that's why I caveated my post with "Tangent"

but what would you prefer for such a reasonable ask?

Nothing. It is, in fact, a reasonable ask. It's not a mental health question. "Patient comfort" sure, "procedural professionalism" whatever.

I don't think it was your intention, but please try to avoid conflating the points I'm making.

Your comment suggested to me that the provider shouldn't be concerned about what you're calling "patient comfort" here - that "bad feelings happen" and who cares if it's before your surgery. The author of the NYT piece is communicating that the provider SHOULD be (and probably is) concerned about that emotional state, and that having scary financial concerns get dropped on you the day before a surgery is something that ought to be avoided.

And not to get too linguistic-descriptivist, but I'm afraid it's too late to be too prescriptive about the expansion of the meaning of "mental health" for the wider world.

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