Mental Health History
Section Summary
This section explores topics such as:
- What is mental health?
- What are mental health conditions?
- What is the history of the mental health movement?
- What additional resources are there?
What is Mental Health?
Mental health includes our emotions, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Just like our physical health, mental health is important at every stage of life.
Learn more about mental health here.
A Brief History of the Mental Health Rights Movement
In the 19th century, people with mental health conditions were horribly mistreated. In psychiatric institutions, for example, forced lobotomies and sterilizations were commonplace.
Dorothea Dix, one of the first mental health activists, fought for better living conditions for the mentally ill in the 1800s. Her efforts convinced the U.S. government to build 32 new state psychiatric hospitals.
The 20th century saw more improvements and progress for the mental health rights movement. Some notable dates include:
- The founding of Mental Health America in 1909, a nonprofit committed to promoting mental health rights
- The passage of the National Mental Health Act in 1946, which created the National Institute of Mental Health and provided government funds for research into causes and treatments for mental illness
- The passage of the Community Mental Health Act of 1963, which provided federal funding for community-based mental health services
Then, in 2008, Congress passed the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). This was a landmark act that made insurance providers offer comparable insurance coverage for mental health, substance abuse disorder, and physical health care.
Why is the Mental Health Rights Movement So Important? | TCSPP (thechicagoschool.edu)
What are Mental Health Conditions?
Mental health conditions affect most of us in some way – whether it’s you, your child or a friend. We have come a long way in our understanding of mental health, but there’s still so much we don’ t know. Watch the video below to take a look at the history of mental health treatment in the United States and the stigma that is still sometimes connected to mental illness today.
The video below focuses on how mental health has evolved over the years, changing what was once fact into a myth.
Resources
Want to watch more videos and documentaries on mental health? Check out these links: