Many of you may or may not be aware of the fact that May is observed as the “Mental Health Awareness Month”.
Before moving on, how about an exercise!
Look at these 3 pictures! Find anything common in them?
Yes! They were masters of their craft, but Chester Bennignton, Sushant Singh Rajput, and Robin Williams all suffered from mental illness.
Your mind deserves as much attention as your body. The Mental Health Awareness Month started to be observed every May from 1949. It aimed to raise awareness about the trauma faced by those with mental disorders and its impact on physical and mental well-being.
Want to know why there is a mental health month? Read on to find the brief history tracing the developments.
If there’s a Mental Health Awareness Month today and a discussion around it, we have Mr. Clifford Whittingham Beers to thank for it. A Yale College graduate and Wall Street Financier, Beers suffered from Bipolar Disorder following the death of his brother.
After trying (unsuccessfully!) to take his life, Beers ended up in public and private hospitals across Connecticut. Here, he observed the cruel and inhumane treatment inflicted on people with mental health conditions, as if whipping them bloody would drive the psychosis out!
In fact, he too suffered horrendous abuse at the hands of the orderlies, including being confined to a straightjacket for 21 consecutive nights.
The 3 years in medical institutions led Beers to bring a much needed reform for the treatment of people with mental illness. He set this reform movement in motion by publishing his autobiography A Mind That Found Itself (1908), which made people sympathetic to the plight associated with mental illness.
Finally in 1909, along with William James (philosopher) and Adolf Meyer (psychiatrist), established the “National Committee for Mental Hygiene” (predecessor to the National Mental Health Association and Mental Health America). This organization aimed to improve the attitudes of people towards mental illness.
There was no looking back after this which is evident from the strides made in the field of mental health awareness below.
Classplus News 📰!
#OpenUp
Two small but extremely powerful words, and the backbone of Classplus’ mental health campaign. The Classplus Clan took the stage to voice their support to encourage and normalize seeking therapy. Check out some glimpses of the same below!
Do good, be good when you are in our n’hood 🏀.
Watch this space for more such fun updates from Classplus.
If we add even a tiny smile on your beautiful face, our work here is done. Stay classy!
