The problems of describing mental illness

We are often told that there is still a stigma surrounding mental illness. It is therefore strange that the England cricketer Jonathan Trott was stigmatised for allegedly not having one. Trott left the England tour of Australia in November citing a “long-standing, stress-related condition”. But when he gave an interview last month explaining that he was burnt out rather than depressed, the former England captain Michael Vaughan said that he felt “a little bit conned”, saying, “When I hear players talking about burnout, I suspect it is an excuse.”

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What is England?

HOUSE OF COMMENTS PODCAST. “In the week of St George’s Day, Nick Denys tries to find out what England and English is. He talks to Sunder Katwala (Director of British Future), Caroline Kent (feminist columnist for the Telegraph) and Julian Baggini (philosopher and author of Welcome to Everytown). Sunder is interviewed at the beginning, Caroline at around 14 minutes, and Julian from 26 minutes 20 seconds.”

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