--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We need, ultimately, to be able to view…" description: "\"We need, ultimately, to be able to view mental health with the same clear-headedness we show when talking about physical health.\" — Matt Haig" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/matt-haig-1036_health_we-need-ultimately-to-be-able-to-view-me_2649646.jpg" --- # We need, ultimately, to be able to view mental health with… ![“We need, ultimately, to be able to view mental health with the same clear-headedness we show when talking about physical health.” quote by Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/matt-haig-1036_health_we-need-ultimately-to-be-able-to-view-me_2649646.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/matt-haig-1036_health_we-need-ultimately-to-be-able-to-view-me_2649646.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/matt-haig-1036_health_we-need-ultimately-to-be-able-to-view-me_2649646.jpg) > “We need, ultimately, to be able to view mental health with the same clear-headedness we show when talking about physical health.” [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates treating mental health with the same rational, objective approach used for physical health, promoting clear-headed understanding. **In simple terms:** Calls for equal seriousness in mental and physical health. Key Takeaway Apply scientific mindset to mental well‑being. Themes health equity stigma reduction holistic care science communication Mood thoughtful hopeful Type advocacy educational When to use this quote - clinical practice - policy making - education programs - self‑care routines Key Concepts psychology public health behavioral science Questions to Reflect On - What barriers exist to viewing mental health objectively? - How can we balance empathy with clear‑headedness? A Different Perspective Mental health may resist purely clinical framing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clear Headedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-headedness-1876109/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Physical health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-health/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [View](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/view/) [View Mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/view-mental-2339339/) ## Related quotes > [Most people view health only in the physical sense, but I view it also in the mental, spiritual, and emotional sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-goodwin/most-people-view-health-only-in-the-physical-sense-but-i-view-it-also/) [Malcolm Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-goodwin/) > [“It's the clear headedness behind her voice and the calm reasonable expression in her eyes that rips my heart right out of my chest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/it-s-the-clear-headedness-behind-her-voice-and-the-calm-reasonable/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [People tend to look at mental health differently than physical health. If someone tears their ACL, we don't expect them to run 30 yards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/people-tend-to-look-at-mental-health-differently-than-physical-health/) [Cris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-carter/) > [A child's mental health is just as important as their physical health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-middleton/a-child-s-mental-health-is-just-as-important-as-their-physical-health/) [Kate Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-middleton/) > [“Solar storms do affect human mental and physical health in many ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/solar-storms-do-affect-human-mental-and-physical-health-in-many-ways/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I do go to the gym regularly but I hate every aspect of it. I have to do it for my mental health and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amaury-guichon/i-do-go-to-the-gym-regularly-but-i-hate-every-aspect-of-it-i-have-to/) [Amaury Guichon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amaury-guichon/) > [“Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) do affect human mental and physical health in many ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/coronal-mass-ejections-cme-do-affect-human-mental-and-physical-health/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [In order to really give mental health the focus and attention it deserves, we need to bring together and integrate all the services that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciana-berger/in-order-to-really-give-mental-health-the-focus-and-attention-it/) [Luciana Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciana-berger/) > [It seemed to me the basic definition of mental illness, this persistent, painful inability to simply be with someone else. It might be lifelong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-thompson/it-seemed-to-me-the-basic-definition-of-mental-illness-this/) [Tracy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-thompson/) > [Mental health is something that needs to be spoken about openly for everybody, especially in men. It's something that people perceive as weakness but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-russell/mental-health-is-something-that-needs-to-be-spoken-about-openly-for/) [George Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-russell/) > [I was hoping that I could say stuff about mental illness that maybe people didn't know. You know, speak up for bipolar disorder and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-millegan/i-was-hoping-that-i-could-say-stuff-about-mental-illness-that-maybe/) [Eric Millegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-millegan/) > [My father's very public life as Famous Amos was the opposite of that of his ex-wife, my mother Shirley, who was fighting a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-amos/my-father-s-very-public-life-as-famous-amos-was-the-opposite-of-that/) [Shawn Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-amos/) > [We might take it for granted now, but back in the nineties, who was talking about mental health?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-corrin/we-might-take-it-for-granted-now-but-back-in-the-nineties-who-was/) [Emma Corrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-corrin/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I think we need to talk about mental illness a lot more. People complain about tax dollars and say we don't have the money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-think-we-need-to-talk-about-mental-illness-a-lot-more-people/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) ## More by Matt Haig > [“Maybe that is what growing up was all about. It was about changing your mind. Opening it right up. Admitting to yourself that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/maybe-that-is-what-growing-up-was-all-about-it-was-about-changing/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [“It felt civilised and modern. It felt refined and tantalising, all at once, like a polite collective pre-orgasm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/it-felt-civilised-and-modern-it-felt-refined-and-tantalising-all-at/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [If you can't give children optimism, then what are you doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/if-you-can-t-give-children-optimism-then-what-are-you-doing/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [“He just wanted to live inside a moment of that life with her forever, to pluck it like a flower and press it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/he-just-wanted-to-live-inside-a-moment-of-that-life-with-her-forever/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [British culture is very cynical sometimes of overt displays of sentimentality, and I think that becomes almost a suspicion of emotion, or a suspicion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/british-culture-is-very-cynical-sometimes-of-overt-displays-of/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [“That is one of the patterns: when nothing is happening, nothing continues to happen, but after a while the lull becomes too much and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/that-is-one-of-the-patterns-when-nothing-is-happening-nothing/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [The single biggest act of bravery or madness anyone can do is the act of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/the-single-biggest-act-of-bravery-or-madness-anyone-can-do-is-the-act/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [For me, as a writer, I desperately want to be read. I'm very conscious of readers as I'm writing. I think, 'If you write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/for-me-as-a-writer-i-desperately-want-to-be-read-i-m-very-conscious/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [“It’s not you. It’s them. (No, really. It is.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/it-s-not-you-it-s-them-no-really-it-is/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [“We are all so weird that, really, none of us are. There are seven billion versions of strange on this freak wonder of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/we-are-all-so-weird-that-really-none-of-us-are-there-are-seven/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [“Sa asculti muzica, mi-am dat eu seama, nu era altceva decat placerea de a numara fara sa iti dai seama ca numeri.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/sa-asculti-muzica-mi-am-dat-eu-seama-nu-era-altceva-decat-placerea-de/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [“Beauty--be not caused," said Emily Dickinson. "It is." In one way she was wrong. The scattering of light over a long distance creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/beauty-be-not-caused-said-emily-dickinson-it-is-in-one-way-she-was/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [I'm a firm believer in the connection between the body and the mind: feed one, feed both. I like to run, but only short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/i-m-a-firm-believer-in-the-connection-between-the-body-and-the-mind/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [Look at the sky; remind yourself of the cosmos. Seek vastness at every opportunity in order to see the smallness of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/look-at-the-sky-remind-yourself-of-the-cosmos-seek-vastness-at-every/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [A book is a map. There will be times in your life when you will feel lost and confused. The way back to yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/a-book-is-a-map-there-will-be-times-in-your-life-when-you-will-feel/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) [Explore all 294 Matt Haig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) ## More Health quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Water is life, and clean water means health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/water-is-life-and-clean-water-means-health/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [I listen to my body, I give it things it wants and I eliminate things it doesn't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-ekland/i-listen-to-my-body-i-give-it-things-it-wants-and-i-eliminate-things/) [Britt Ekland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-ekland/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Mental health is an issue close to my heart - an issue, indeed, I've covered repeatedly for Channel 4 News.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-newman/mental-health-is-an-issue-close-to-my-heart-an-issue-indeed-i-ve/) [Cathy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-newman/) > [If you’re going to die on screen, you’ve got to be strong and in good health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-garbo/if-you-re-going-to-die-on-screen-you-ve-got-to-be-strong-and-in-good/) [Greta Garbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-garbo/) > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [Not only is a healthy America a strong America - it's vital to our national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/not-only-is-a-healthy-america-a-strong-america-it-s-vital-to-our/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) [Browse all 17,127 Health quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We need, ultimately, to be able to view mental health with the same clear-headedness we show when talking about physical health.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matt Haig" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/we-need-ultimately-to-be-able-to-view-mental-health-with-the-same/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Health" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/we-need-ultimately-to-be-able-to-view-mental-health-with-the-same/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/matt-haig-1036_health_we-need-ultimately-to-be-able-to-view-me_2649646.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/matt-haig-1036_health_we-need-ultimately-to-be-able-to-view-me_2649646.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/matt-haig-1036_health_we-need-ultimately-to-be-able-to-view-me_2649646.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We need, ultimately, to be able to view mental health with the same clear-headedness we show when talking…” — Matt Haig", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Matt Haig", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We need, ultimately, to be able...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/we-need-ultimately-to-be-able-to-view-mental-health-with-the-same/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/we-need-ultimately-to-be-able-to-view-mental-health-with-the-same/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```