Mind-Blowing Facts About The Sad History Of Mental Illness
Mental illness affects approximately one in five adults every year—that’s 43.8 million people. Considering that it’s so common and prevalent, why is it that mental illness continues to be shrouded in such a dark cloak of stigma?
With its historical roots firmly planted in the belief that mental illness was the result of being possessed by evil spirits, or a punishment for some horrible wrong-doing, it is easy to understand how misconceptions arose and were carried on throughout history.
Now there is a strong movement to end the stigma associated with mental illnesses, and it is gaining speed due to the revelations of many admired celebrities who have had to fight the battles themselves.
Here are 24 mind-blowing facts about the history of mental illness.
Mental Illness Facts
24. Do No Harm
Ancient civilizations like the Romans and Egyptians believed mental illnesses were a matter of religious nature. It was often believed that the afflicted were possessed by demons and often performed exorcisms as a form of treatment.
It wasn’t until the 5th century BCE that the Greek physician Hippocrates, of “do no harm” fame, developed the idea that mental illnesses were physiological afflictions.
He recommended a change in environment, living conditions, or occupation to help treat patients.
23. Mass Hysteria
During the Victorian Era, women who experienced medical conditions and symptoms were considered to be “unbalanced.”
Examples of these symptoms include menstruation-related anger, pregnancy-related sadness, disobedience, chronic fatigue, and anxiety. Women who presented these symptoms would be labeled as suffering from "hysteria,"
a term that is now acknowledged to be rooted in sexism and which has no clinical significance today, and placed in institutions where they had few or no rights. Any disobedience was met with severe punishment.
22. Jailed and Abused
In early American history, people with mental illnesses were institutionalised and subjected to horrible conditions and abuse. Once there, they were often not permitted to leave.
In the 1840s, a Boston woman named Dorothy Dix began to research the conditions in traditional mental health institutions. She outlined horrific cases in which patients were chained to their beds, kept in filthy conditions, and routinely abused.
She advocated a change in procedure that would take a kinder approach to treating the mentally ill. It was one of the first documents to outline compassionate care.
