For many centuries, and across various cultures, people would view mental illnesses as a curse from the gods or as demonic possessions. Only a few believed in its scientific impact and became the pioneers of mental health policy.
The current period is one of the prime times when the mental health field is experiencing the most remarkable changes. Studying mental disorders, their pathophysiology, and their impact on patient’s life has dramatically influenced trends in psychology and, subsequently, the public’s attitude towards it. By creating a better understanding, national policymakers and health officials implemented these changes into a legal framework that would affect future generations.
During the mid-1940s, U.S. President Harry Truman signed the National Mental Health Act. Through this, the National Institute of Mental Health came into existence, which has since played a vital role in managing mental illnesses in the country. This organization worked with patients, healthcare professionals, family members, communities, and guidance counselors to destigmatize mental disorders and create a safer space for those suffering.
While previously, getting shunned or institutionalized was the more popular way to deal with the mentally ill, today’s care works in the better interests of the patient.
Therefore, we highlight the six most significant chances the Mental Health Act has seen over the years to learn how laws evolved with time.
1. Enforcing deinstitutionalization
For hundreds of years, health professionals and family members of patients have considered the institutional inpatient model the most effective treatment approach. While this increased access to healthcare services, these facilities lacked funding and staff. As a result, poor living conditions, harsh treatment, and widespread human rights violations started receiving harsh criticism. This created an urgent need to address prevalent mental health policy issues, and the deinstitutionalization movement began across the country.
By the 1960s, the closure of several state psychiatric hospitals in the United States became common. This amendment only allowed admission in psychiatric hospitals after passing strict standards and of only those patients who posed an imminent danger to themselves or others.
2. Redefining mental disorders
Based on a psychiatric evaluation, mental health disorders got broadly classified as mental impairment, mental illness, severe mental impairment, or psychopathic disorder. Any individual who didn’t conform to their particular definitions got excluded from being a mentally ill patient and therefore didn’t receive the appropriate care. But when the Mental Health Act redefined mental disorders, it included all those with disorders or disabilities of the mind.
By redefining mental disorders, many people now fall into the inclusion criteria and can benefit from the protections of the Act. For instance, if someone receives a traumatic brain injury from an accident or a violent assault, they can now access healthcare facilities.
3. More say in treatment and care
As the mental health pendulum swings from institutionalization to outpatient services, an individual’s involvement in their care and treatment is becoming more common. Psychiatric Advance Directives or PADs are legal documents that detail a patient’s preferences on how they’d like to get treated if and when the need arises. While a PAD has several benefits, one of the most significant ones is that it ensures proper care and prevents involuntary treatment.
Additionally, assigning family members as decision-makers for mentally ill patients was common in the early years. But not all family members have a patient’s best interest at heart and might make decisions just to take pressure off themselves. To mitigate this problem, the Mental Health Act allows patients to nominate a proxy instead of having one assigned to them. Within a PAD, patients can mention who they’d like to make decisions on their behalf, making the care and treatment much more to their liking.
4. Greater transparency and accountability for mental health care
Due to poor policy implementation in several parts of the country, mental health professionals weren’t always held accountable for their actions. The governing and regulatory bodies could not guarantee standard care without proper documentation and record-keeping of their services. But new policies in the Mental Health Act emphasize practicing transparency in treatment and therapeutic procedures given to patients. With people knowing any underlying diagnostic costs beforehand, they’re better positioned to make informed decisions without feeling deceived.
Moreover, gaps in accountability and transparency make it impossible for mental health facilities to forecast and predict the resources needed to run the place. But when hospitals recount all expenses and costs, they’re more likely to provide services for all patients needing care.
5. Broadening roles of mental health professionals
Previously, it was a general surgeon who would diagnose and ultimately treat a mental health patient. Although their medical expertise and knowledge were excellent, they didn’t have the specialization or skills to deal with mentally challenged individuals. However, besides transforming ways to treat patients, the Mental Health Act has also introduced new professional roles. One such qualification is that of a licensed professional counselor with special training and education regarding mental health and its associated policies. Other professions like social workers, clinical psychologists, and learning disability nurses are also increasingly joining this healthcare sector.
With more people recognizing the significance of mental health and its impact on everyday life, new occupations and job roles are emerging daily. And since these individuals receive specialized education on how to deal with mental health patients, there is no better source to counsel or care for them.
6. Protecting patients’ rights
People with mental health conditions are also regular individuals who have dreams, hobbies, and goals. They have every right to receive the same dignity and respect as the average public. Unfortunately, for decades, communities and even healthcare professionals would discriminate against the mentally ill and make them social outcasts. From forcing lobotomies and sterilizations to isolating them in infirmaries, the level of abuse was matchless. Additionally, mental health patients were barely ever hired by employers and often refused access to essential services.
To ensure civil rights and equal justice for all humans under the law, the Mental Health Act has worked to protect patients from social prejudices. It, therefore, provides rights for:
- Liberty and autonomy
- Privacy
- Protection from restraint and isolation
- Social inclusion
- Access to public services
Conclusion
Currently, the Mental Health Act encourages health workers and community members to consider a patient’s independence and dignity when making decisions regarding their care. The most significant change was abolishing shackling and other common cruel practices for restraining mentally disabled individuals.
Although mental health care receives much better recognition now than it did when the Act was first established, there’s still room for progress. To achieve this, patients, healthcare professionals, family members, and policymakers must collaborate and work to improve legislation.
