Hi all! My name is Rae and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who decided to write a blog about mental health. 

With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to share some history of mental health and how it has changed over the past century. 

Disclosure: The statements made in this blog are not medical advice. If you need medical help please reach out to a physician or other medical provider. You may also contact the U.S. National crisis line by dialing 988. This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through one of my links I earn a small commission, at no additional charge to you. You can read more through my disclaimer.

Mental health as we know it today, began in the 1900s. Before that, mental health was not something society openly discussed. Those that were considered mentally unfit, were just locked away from society. The term “mental hygiene” was coined by William Sweetzer in 1843. Merriam-Webster defines mental hygiene as “the science of maintaining mental health and preventing mental illness.” In 1908, Clifford Beers published a book based on his experiences being admitted to three mental hospitals titled, A Mind that Found Itself. It is an interesting read and not too long of a book if you wish to read it yourself. Before the release of Beers’ book, those who seemed to have mental differences/difficulties suffered atrocities while locked away from society. 

From Mental Hygiene to Mental Health

After the publishing of this book, a cascade of mental hygiene associations began to form. This started with the creation of the National Commission of Mental Hygiene in 1909 and which eventually led to the creation of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. 

The purpose of the National Commission in the beginning was to humanize the care of those with mental illness. Later, they added preventative work as it was believed that mental disorders started in childhood (Bertolote J., 2008). On July 3, 1946, President Harry Truman signed the National Mental Health Act. Three years later, the National Institute of Mental Health was born. In the 1960s, the WHO began using health instead of hygiene in their reports. You can read more about the history of mental health by clicking the link below.

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/departments/mental-health/about/origins-of-mental-health

What’s Next?

Mental health has come a long way from where it started. Humans have gone from only locking those with mental illness away, to trying to understand and help those in need. Don’t get me wrong, we still have a ways to go though. There is a continued stigma when it comes to seeking therapy. I still have people come into my office and say that at least one family member “doesn’t believe in therapy” or “therapy isn’t helpful.” Others think that just taking a pill will make everything better. Coming to see a therapist means admitting to ourselves and those around us that we need help. That is not something everyone finds easy to do.

Just as with other health aspects, the science behind mental health is ever changing. We are starting to understand more not just with adult mental health, but with children as well. Check out my other blog here to read more regarding children’s mental health. https://raesreflections.com/history-of-child-mental-health/