MENTAL HEALTH IN 1940

By: Danielle, AbbyJames, Kary AnneCaitlyn

OVERVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH IN THE NATION

• Provided funding for research into causes, prevention and treatment of mental illness. It also led to establishment in 1949 of the National Institute of Mental Health and provided for Federal investigation of mental hospitals.  Investigators found apathy, neglect, and custodial care. 1946. 1949: The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a new component of the Public Health Service's National Institute of Health, came into existence.

BEGINNING OF 1940’S MENTAL HEALTH Around the beginning of 1940, the United

Sates was preparing for the war that was soon to come

After WWI there were many people who were struck by the wrenching views of people dying and killing each other. 1941 WWII started, and mostly men suffered combat mental illness.

1943 Still during the war, the people tried to fix their thoughts and minds of theimages of the war. In order to do that, the men

went to psychiatrics to help them forget and remove the scenes.

Many mental health issues dealt with hypnosis that would treat the mind from the images until some of the men had dreams.

1946-1949In 1946, the National Mental Health Act was signed by President Truman(Detailed History of Mental Health, n.d., p.1)

The National Mental Health Act created financial support for psychiatric education and research. The financial support was given to the National Institute of Mental Health.

1947 was the start of the development of community based mental health services (mental institutions) (Detailed History of Mental Health, n.d., p.1)This was started by Governor Luther Youngdahl, who was the governor of Minnesota.

In 1949, a treatment for bipolar disorder was introduced. This treatment was a drug that used lithium, and was approved by the FDA in 1970 (Detailed History of Mental Health, n.d., p.1)

ELECTROSHOCK THERAPY Use of electric eels and fish ancient practice for treating mental illness Returned in 1937 to treat schizophrenia with electricity

Done so by Ugo Cerletti and Lucino Bini Inspired by Hungarian psychiatrist who

believed causing an epileptic seizure changed the chemistry of the brain.

Cerletti and Bini discover that seizures could be more easily caused by electricity than by chemicals during animal testing Many subjects died through contact with

electrodes Began applying electrodes to either

side of the head to alleviate stress on the heart

Done on dogs until April of 1938 when therapy was applied to a human subject

Treatment very popular and influenced the approval of lobotomy (excision of or cutting the nerves of the frontal lobe)

Popularity increased during World War II Used in military training

Eventually treatment become prohibited

BATTLE FATIGUE During War world ll they started using terms like

battle Fatigue, war stress, and combat exhaustionThe feeling of battle fatigue feels unpleasant and interferes with mission performanceContributing factors to Battle Fatigue are sudden exposure, cumulative exposure, stress, physical problems, or from their home life (for exp. Dear John letter, bad depts., or sick love one)These factors can cause internal struggles, and make them lose confidence in themselves, buddies, and equipment

There are three degrees of battle fatigue and that is anxiety, depression, and memory lossAnxiety and depression are the most common formAnd memory loss is less common especially in extreme versionsThere are two degrees of memory loss1st degree is inability to remember recent orders2nd degree is the most serious and it is the loss of well learned skillsThe Best way to combat battle Fatigue is thru assurance, rest, replenishment of physical needs and activities to restore confidence

OVERVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH IN THE NATION

Mental Health Act of 1946

Helped to fund research in treating mental illness.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), came into existence.

The New York State Mental Health Commission was formed in 1949

REFERENCES Electroshock therapy introduced 1938. (n.d.).

Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dh38el.html

Detailed History of Mental Health. (n.d.). Retrieved October 5, 2011, from http://www.mnpsychsoc.org/history%20appendix.pdf

N.A. (n.d.). Battle Fatigue. Retrieved 10 5, 2011, from ptsd manual: http://www.ptsdmanual.com/fm22-51/ch5.pdf

Overview of mental health in new york and the nation. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/research/res_topics_health_mh_timeline.shtml