Rights of the Mentally Rights of the Mentally IllIll

By: Heather MarionBy: Heather Marion

Prehistoric times:Prehistoric times:

• Mental illnesses were assumed to be caused by magical spirits that interfered with the mind

• Rituals were used to coax the spirits out: exorcism, trephination

Trephination tool: Skull after ritual:

Colonial American society:Colonial American society:

• Referred to the mentally ill as “lunatics”

• Removed from society

• Horrible medical practices-ice bath, shocks to their brain, bleeding

Preparing for shock treatment:

Empty room for bleeding practice:

““Age of Restraint”: 1770-1830Age of Restraint”: 1770-1830

During this time, the onset of mental illness was thought to During this time, the onset of mental illness was thought to be the fault of the individualbe the fault of the individual

Treatments were purposefully unpleasant and distressing Treatments were purposefully unpleasant and distressing

Since the patient was isolated from society and deemed unable to think Since the patient was isolated from society and deemed unable to think clearly for themselves, they were given no rights clearly for themselves, they were given no rights

Daily life:Daily life: Rooms like cells, barred windows, locked doors, and chains on Rooms like cells, barred windows, locked doors, and chains on the walls the walls

Treatments:Treatments: Restraints, cold bath plunges, cupping glasses, Centrifuge Restraints, cold bath plunges, cupping glasses, Centrifuge therapy therapy

Centrifuge therapy

Restraint

Tranquilizing Chair

(Treatments during “Age of Restraint”)(Treatments during “Age of Restraint”)

Moral Management Era: mid 18Moral Management Era: mid 18thth century century

• Kindness and moralityKindness and morality

• Reforms to protect the mentally ill begin…mostly led by Dorothy DixReforms to protect the mentally ill begin…mostly led by Dorothy Dix

Dorothy Dix:Dorothy Dix: -saw first hand how the mentally ill were treated and -saw first hand how the mentally ill were treated and dedicated her life to fight for better conditions dedicated her life to fight for better conditions

- traveled from state to state to campaign- traveled from state to state to campaign

- result: better, state-run hospitals built- result: better, state-run hospitals built

• new found belief that environment played a new found belief that environment played a crucial role in curing the mentally ill = better crucial role in curing the mentally ill = better

conditions conditions

BUT…BUT…

Moral Management Era cont…Moral Management Era cont…

• Civil War changes everything…thousands of soldiers come home Civil War changes everything…thousands of soldiers come home with mental illnesses (now known as PTSD)with mental illnesses (now known as PTSD)

• They are emotionally and socially ill and are sent to stay in the They are emotionally and socially ill and are sent to stay in the mental hospitals…overcrowding is at times worse than beforemental hospitals…overcrowding is at times worse than before

• The mental hospitals are forced to resort to the old ways.. Restraints The mental hospitals are forced to resort to the old ways.. Restraints and shock therapy are two of the first procedures to resurface.and shock therapy are two of the first procedures to resurface.

-In order to compensate for the wave of soldiers, -In order to compensate for the wave of soldiers, asylums begin to open all over the countryasylums begin to open all over the country

Huge decline in patient care….no more individual rooms, locked and Huge decline in patient care….no more individual rooms, locked and stacked cribs stacked cribs

The lobotomy was first introduced in the early 1930s. Later the The lobotomy was first introduced in the early 1930s. Later the trans-orbital lobotomy was used which was faster and required less trans-orbital lobotomy was used which was faster and required less patient care but was also much more deadlypatient care but was also much more deadly

DeinstitutionalizationDeinstitutionalization

1954, the anti-psychotic drug Thorazine began to be used1954, the anti-psychotic drug Thorazine began to be used-shortens time of stay in mental institutions-shortens time of stay in mental institutions

-leads to better treatments-leads to better treatments

The term used to describe mental patients moving out of the The term used to describe mental patients moving out of the institutions and into the community is called institutions and into the community is called deinstitutionalizationdeinstitutionalization. .

Positive aspects = outpatient services, single day/night hospitalization, Positive aspects = outpatient services, single day/night hospitalization, diagnostic services, more extensive research and training.diagnostic services, more extensive research and training.

Negative aspects = mentally ill were released to families, individuals Negative aspects = mentally ill were released to families, individuals pushed out of institutions that shouldn’t have beenpushed out of institutions that shouldn’t have been

Community Mental Health Centers Community Mental Health Centers ActAct

In 1963, John F. Kennedy signed the Community Mental Health In 1963, John F. Kennedy signed the Community Mental Health Centers Act into law. Centers Act into law.

The law insisted on a national system of care to adequately meet The law insisted on a national system of care to adequately meet the needs of mentally ill individualsthe needs of mentally ill individuals

Step in the right direction but… the act did not cover the needs Step in the right direction but… the act did not cover the needs of ALL mental patients since it offered psychotherapy to only of ALL mental patients since it offered psychotherapy to only non-chronic sufferers. non-chronic sufferers.

Those who need help the most (the severely mentally ill) were Those who need help the most (the severely mentally ill) were overlookedoverlooked

Willowbrook InstitutionWillowbrook Institution State-run institution on Staten Island, NYCState-run institution on Staten Island, NYC The problems there were brought to the public’s attention The problems there were brought to the public’s attention

by investigative reporter Geraldo Rivera in 1972by investigative reporter Geraldo Rivera in 1972

HORRIBLE conditions… HORRIBLE conditions…

-Overcrowding-Overcrowding

-Poor living conditions-Poor living conditions

-Poor health-Poor health

Video of former Willowbrook residentVideo of former Willowbrook resident

Result: The signing of a consent judgment in Federal Court in 1975

Reform Laws to protect the rights of the Reform Laws to protect the rights of the

mentally illmentally ill In 1977, President Jimmy Carter created the President’s In 1977, President Jimmy Carter created the President’s

Commission on Mental Health Commission on Mental Health

Held meetings to discuss how to help the mentally illHeld meetings to discuss how to help the mentally ill

Led to the establishment of the Mental Health Systems Act in Led to the establishment of the Mental Health Systems Act in 19801980

Also in 1980, the rights of the mentally ill were again brought Also in 1980, the rights of the mentally ill were again brought into focus with the passing of the Civil Rights of into focus with the passing of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons ActInstitutionalized Persons Act

Happy ending?Happy ending?

Society is finally beginning to understand that Society is finally beginning to understand that mental illnesses can be adequately dealt with mental illnesses can be adequately dealt with and that those with illnesses can be a fully and that those with illnesses can be a fully functioning part of our society. People no functioning part of our society. People no longer see mental illness as a character flaw or longer see mental illness as a character flaw or personal failing. There are many professionals, personal failing. There are many professionals, legislators, and advocates, who are helping legislators, and advocates, who are helping spread the word that people with mental spread the word that people with mental illnesses should have the same treatment, illnesses should have the same treatment, independence, and freedom that each of us independence, and freedom that each of us deserve.deserve.