Late bloomers, early developers, outdoor kids, introverts, visual thinkers, and dreamers—the neoliberal society unfairly problematizes the behavior of these children. Child and adolescent psychiatrist Hilgo Bruining believes this can and must change, as he explains in an extensive interview with Medisch Contact.
Hilgo Bruining, affiliated with the research institutes Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development and Amsterdam Neuroscience, is on a mission: the care for children with developmental disorders must become fair and sustainable. The Amsterdam-based psychiatrist argues that the current system is fragmented, arbitrary, and suffers from poor information exchange. In his book, "Donut Psychiatry," he seamlessly connects ecological thinking, the detrimental influence of neoliberalism, and the issues within his field.
His central thesis is clear: “We have a society where children must perform, regardless of whether it helps them thrive. We need a society where children can thrive regardless of their performance or contribution.” Inspired by the British economist Kate Raworth's donut model, Bruining sees important parallels in child psychiatry and youth care. This model illustrates the balance needed between providing social security and respecting planetary boundaries, suggesting that we must create the right conditions for children's development rather than focusing solely on their deviations from the norm.
Read the full interview with Hilgo Bruining on Medisch Contact.
Photo credits: Harmen de Jong