At the same time, we provide the lowest pay, and almost zero training, to the staff that work day in and day out with the mentally impaired of all varieties (those with so-called psychiatric diagnoses, developmental disabilities, brain injuries, dementia, etc.). A well-educated staff may be in the background, checking on things occasionally, but those who do most of the hands-on work typically lack much instruction, as you no doubt know better than I do. And yet it is exactly such direct care that really makes the difference in a person’s well-being. No medication or MR scan can substitute for kindness and directed attention.

Does our society really value peace of mind? If so, then more resources would go to the things that truly work to bring comfort to people. Personally, I believe that our civilization places a high premium on control, and less of one on contentment. There seems to be greater distress, in our anticipation at least, involved in things spinning out of our hands than there is in the actual experience of illness.

Perhaps we could tolerate more uncertainty with regards to outcome, in order to expend some resources toward peace in the moment. Not that I think research to prevent or reverse (for example) dementia is unimportant. But we would help more people feel better sooner with even a small shift in priorities toward face-to-face ministry.

I apologize for the long reply to your concise comment and astute observation. I really do like to write about this stuff, and tend to run off at the ‘mouth’!