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Eastern State Hospital
Opened in 1773 in Williamsburg, VA, this was the first institution for mentally ill individuals. Institutions like this were labeled as "insane" or "lunatic" asylums, and were notoriously inhumane with their treatment of patients. -
Mental Healthcare Legislation
Initiated by activist Dorothea Dix, the first legislation authorizing the creation of mental health hospitals was pushed in 1843. Dix devoted much of her social efforts towards the humane treatment of the mentally ill, and this was a launching point towards improved rehabilitative care with much more human treatment of patients. -
Clifford Beers
in 1908, Beers published the book "A Mind That Found Itself." This book casted the poor treatment and approach towards mental health patients into the public eye. Riding this momentum, he later founded the Connecticut Society for Mental Hygiene, which would advocate at the federal level for more prevalent awareness and interventions for those suffering with their mental health. -
American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers
Established in 1926, this organization was formed out of the demand for a broader social work presence in the hospital setting. -
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Formed in 1955, this organization contained all of the broad directions social work can go. The importance of social work in mental health, as well as other areas of society continued to grow. -
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Established in 1979, this group was built by patients, for patients. This group (which still exists today) was used for support, advocacy, and even research. -
Mental Health Parity Act (MHPA)
Led by President Bill Clinton in 1996, this bill required health insurance to cover mental health services in the same way they covered other areas of healthcare. This was the opening of a major door for people to get the mental health care they needed. -
Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Passed in 2010, this bill broadened insurance coverage and access to care to millions of people. Another pinnacle event towards adequate mental health resources. -
National Suicide Hotline Designation Act
Passed in 2020, this mandated that the three digits "988" would be universally used for the National Suicide Hotline/Mental Health Crisis line.