English Learning for Curious Minds
#412 | A Short History of Mental Health
Oct 19, 2023
Explore the historical treatments of mental health, including trepanation and the controversial methods of lobotomy and electroshock therapy. Learn about the transition from religious defect to medical condition and the introduction of The Lunacy Act in 1845. Dive into the rising awareness and reporting of mental health issues and the factors influencing modern mental health problems. Debate over the validity of the mental health crisis and contemplate Michel Foucault's quote on human behavior and consequences.
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Quick takeaways
- Throughout history, mental health treatments have ranged from primitive practices like trepanning to controversial methods like lobotomy and electroshock therapy.
- The perception of mental health has evolved from religious defect to medical condition, but stigma and societal pressures still hinder progress in understanding and treating mental health issues.
Deep dives
A History of Mental Health: Trapanning and Beyond
Throughout history, mental health has been perceived in various ways. Trapanning, a surgical procedure that involved drilling a hole into the skull, was one of the earliest attempts at treating mental health issues. It was thought that by opening the skull, the cause of erratic behavior could be removed. This practice was widespread across different civilizations, including the recent case of a Dutch librarian in the 1960s. However, despite advancements in other areas of medicine, the treatment of mental health has not made significant progress. Reports estimate that 50% of the world's population will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime.
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