The Need

Abstract

If you have been to any ACT trainings or have read any ACT books, you may be familiar with the phrase “the ubiquity of human suffering”. This sentiment suggests that the reason mental health issues are so widespread is that suffering is simply an inevitable artefact of being human. It lies in stark contrast to the mainstream notion of “healthy normality”, which is the idea that it is normal to be psychologically healthy, meaning that if you are not happy, then you are not normal. Many people may not realize that the ubiquity of suffering actually takes centre stage in the ACT model because it provides the space for acceptance; that is, if suffering is normal and common, then maybe acceptance, rather than avoidance, is the way to manage it. Of course, if a major premise of the ACT model is that human suffering is widespread, this would be evidenced by high prevalence rates of mental health disorders.