History of Mental Health

Colonial Period (1600s-1700s)

1600

Mental illness during the colonial period in America were often viewed as spiritual or moral issues rather than medical issues. Mental disorders were seen a signs of possession by demons or as punishment for sinful behavior.
Treatments consisted of isolation, jail time, harsh punishments such as physical punishment in order to "release" any evil spirits.

The Rise of Institutional Care (Early 1800s)

1800

At the beginning of the 19th century, asylums were established in order to remove mental ill people from society.
The Moral Treatment Movement was introduced to provide mental ill patients with structured environments, work and care.

Dorothea Dix (Mid-1800s)

1800

Dorothea Dix became one of the earliest mental health advocates traveling across the U.S. to bring light to the poor conditions of prisons and asylums. She let the establishment of more than thirty state mental hospitals to offer care.

Medicalization of Mental Health (1870s-1900s)

1870

Mental Illnesses started to be seen as medical conditions. Psychiatric as field emerged, and mental illness was begin seen as a disorder. The medical model suggested that mental illness was result of physical or chemical imbalances in the brain.

Psychoanalysis and the Eugenics Movement (1900s-1920s)

1900

Sigmund Freud shifted an understanding of mental illness due to unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences.
Psychoanalysis and talk therapy emerged as alternatives to institutional care, although they were mostly limited to the upper class.
Eugenics movement had a negative impact on mental health treatment and patients were often mistreated or sterilized, labeling them as "unfit."

The Era of Medical Treatments (1930s-1950s)

1930

The development of extreme medical treatments arose such as Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and lobotomies.
The first drug treatments for mental illnesses, such as lithium for bipolar disorders were introduced. This with mental illnesses were often hidden from society. The conditions ion psychiatric hospitals were still poor and inhumane.

Deinstitutionalized and the Shift to Community Health Care (1960s-1980s)

1960

The Community Mental Health Act of 1963 marked a significant shift in hopes to get rid of asylums.
Thousands of patients were released from these facilities, but due to not enough funds, these patients were left without proper care, contributing to homelessness and an increase in crime.
During this time, better medications evolved for schizophrenia and depression.
There was a growing criticism of psychiatric practices, in which movements' arose advocating for patients' rights.

The Decade of the Brain (1990s)

1990

This era was declared "The Decade of the Brain" with advances in neuroimaging, genetics, and neuroscience.
The development and widespread use of medications, for example, prozac used for depression, made mental health care more accessible.
Psychotherapy, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), became an effective treatment for various mental illnesses.
Mental health issues, specifically depression and anxiety, began to be discussed more in society and media.

Affordable Health Care Act, Awareness and Access(2000s-Present)

2000

Mental health awareness continued to grow like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) which brought advocacy. There was a major focus on integrating mental health into overall health care systems.
The Affordable Health Care Act (2010) required insurance plans to cover to mental health services.
Mental health education became more prominent in schools and workplaces. Mental health days became normalized.
The Covid-19 pandemic triggered mental health crisis and brought awareness.