Mental health, by definition, refers to our emotional, psychological, and well-being which includes how we feel, think, and act. Additionally, this is also responsible for how one handles day-to-day situations, stress, decisions, and how we relate to others. Compared to previous years and generations, mental health has taken a more significant role. Even though a good amount of the stigma surrounding it has been lifted, this does not undo the history that caused it and the long journey that there is to erase it.
Throughout history, mental illness, and those struggling with it, were treated abysmally. Many clung to the belief that these people were either possessed by a demon, were witches, or were cursed by a god; this signified that they must have done something that made them deserve this consequence. No one sought out for help nor reached out in a kind manner to work out the situation. If someone was dealing with a mental illness, they were seen and treated inhumanely. Those who tried to “heal” these people would perform exorcisms, incantations, or special prayers to release the alleged spirits inside of them. Another more invasive procedure was trephining; here, the subject would have a small hole drilled into the skull with the intent to release the spirits from the body. Needless to say, there weren’t many survivors.
During the eighteenth century, a different approach was taken. Even though this one was less invasive, it was more socially and psychologically impacting. During these centuries, there was a rise in asylums where a lot of the stigma first began. If you were admitted here, you were shunned and ostracized by society. The people who resided in these places were treated like prisoners; often, they were kept in windowless dungeons, they were beaten and chained, and had minimal contact with caregivers. Society believed that those who were kept here were “crazy people”; consequently, those who needed treatment never got any and many parents were ashamed of their kids who developed symptoms of mental illness. This created an unhealthy air around mental illness which made it a taboo topic.
On the other hand, many people including a French physician, Philippe Pinel, who saw the inhumane conditions in the asylums and argued for better treatments for these people. He pushed for the patients to be unchained as well as more communication with them. During the 1950s and ’60s, two psychiatrists, Jean Delay and Pierre Deniker, began using chlorpromazine to treat inpatients dealing with mania and schizophrenia; this became the first antipsychotic medication. That was the first step into the development of many antipsychotic medications, as well, it is argued that this was also the first step to many medications we see for mental illness today. In 1963, congress passed and John F. Kennedy signed the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act. This act provided federal support and funding for many community mental health care centers; this changed how mentally ill patients were treated in the United States. This was another step forward towards eliminating the stigma on this issue as well as providing the right aid for those who need it. The act strived towards deinstitutionalization which led to the closing of many large asylums in hopes of being able to treat patients in their communities.
Today, we can find many health centers in local communities that provide all kinds of services. Unfortunately, when the institutions closed, the patients in the asylums were released even though the system was not ready which led to many people without support. Consequently, a lot of mentally ill patients were homeless or in prison systems. Instead of asylums, we now have psychiatric hospitals, but most of the care provided is short-term since hospitalization tends to be expensive and insurance cannot cover it. Additionally, there has been a rise in psychologists and therapy which have proven to be successful and beneficial. But finding treatment is not easy for everyone due to each one’s circumstances. This is especially the case for those who do not know where to go or have many financial obstacles that don’t allow them to afford seeking help. The stigma around mental health and seeking professional health has died down significantly. A lot of this is due to recent generations who have become very open about their internal struggles. They are aware of the difficulties of the world and choose to empathize instead of judge the circumstances of others while being informed correctly about it. There is still a long way to go regarding access to treatments and the stigma on mental health, but we cannot deny that we have come a long way from where we used to lie.
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