Opinion: Is the mental narrative all it seems?

During my time in various mental health settings, I encountered numerous individuals who identified themselves as "targeted individuals."

Some described experiences involving alleged government surveillance, electronic harassment, gangstalking and covert human experimentation.

These conversations prompted me to consider some interesting questions. How much of what people believe is supported by independently verifiable evidence, and how much might be influenced by psychological experiences, social environments and the narratives we develop to explain the world around us?

I have always enjoyed looking at things analytically, and I believe it is important to acknowledge that unethical human experimentation has genuinely occurred throughout history.

These events demonstrate that institutional misconduct is not necessarily the product of an individual's imagination. Historical evidence matters, and organisations must remain accountable for their actions.

However, acknowledging historical wrongdoing does not automatically establish that contemporary allegations of covert experimentation, electronic harassment or organised targeting are accurate.

Having experienced schizophrenia myself, I understand how psychological difficulties can influence our interpretation of events. People can develop deeply held beliefs that feel entirely convincing, particularly when they encounter others who share similar interpretations.

Confirmation bias, selective attention and the influence of social networks can reinforce beliefs without necessarily providing independent evidence that those beliefs are correct.

I do not believe people experiencing these difficulties should be ridiculed or dismissed. Their distress can be very real, even when their explanations for it remain unverified.

On a personal level, what I went through with schizophrenia will probably always haunt me to some extent. Some of my experiences were deeply frightening, and I recognise that aspects of how I interpreted events may have been conspiratorial in nature. I have learned that not every experience needs to be accepted at face value and that uncertainty is something we sometimes have to tolerate.

Nevertheless, I have made an excellent recovery, something for which I am genuinely grateful. Over the past two years, I have particularly appreciated the support I have received through the UK mental health system and the wider support available to me. The encouragement of my family and professionals has also played an important role in rebuilding my life.

Education, writing and studying Business Psychology have given me renewed purpose. I am particularly interested in motivation, personal development, rational thinking and how organisations can improve the support they provide to people experiencing mental health difficulties.

My experiences have reinforced my belief that people should never be defined by a schizophrenia diagnosis or their most difficult periods in life. Recovery, education, ambition and meaningful contributions to society are all possible.

Ultimately, critical thinking requires us to question established narratives, including our own, while remaining willing to change our minds when the evidence demands it.

Perhaps the greatest lesson I have learned is that we can acknowledge historical injustices, show compassion towards people experiencing psychological distress and still insist on evidence-based thinking.