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In 1908, Clifford Beers founded the Connecticut Society for Mental Hygiene.
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In 1908, Clifford Beers authored an autobiography that detailed the lives of him and his four siblings, all of which went through psychological distress and were seen and treated at a mental facility. The publishing of this book changed mental health in the United States as it displayed the deeper emotions felt of Beers working through his illness and recovering . Beers would become a prominent figure in the movement to reform the treatment of, and attitudes toward mental health.
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The National Mental Health Association was founded in 1909 and would later change its' name to Mental Health America. Their purpose is to promote mental health while offering early prevention programs and integrated care for all those in need.
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On February 19, 1909, Clifford Beers, a mental health patient himself, founded the National Committee for Mental Hygiene, later to be known as the National Mental Health Association and known today as the Mental Health America.
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Henry Phipps Psychiatric Clinic was opened in 1913. This would be the nation’s first inpatient facility for the mentally ill.
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In 1920, The National Committee For Mental Hygiene developed a set of model commitment laws that were incorporated into several state statutes.
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On May 24, 1920, the Mental Health America conducted the First International Congress on Mental Hygiene held in Washington D.C., The event brought together over 3,000 people from across 41 countries.
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July 3, 1946, President Harry Truman passed the National Mental Health Act which called for the finding of the National Institute of Mental Health.
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On April 13, 1953, located at the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, Md., Mental Health America melted down the inhumane bindings of shackles and chains that were used to restrain individuals and from that mold the Mental Health Bell was created.
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The Mental Health Study Act allowed for NIMH to study and make recommendations on various mental health and illnesses within the U.S. The act also sponsored the creation of the Joint Commission on Mental Illness and Health.
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Under the presidency of President Kennedy, Congress passed the Community Mental Health Centers Act (CMHC) which authorized building grants for the construction of community mental health centers.
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"Only Human" was a movie produced by Mental Health America. It portrayed mental illnesses and gave America a better insight into understanding mental illnesses and better acceptance of those suffering from mental illnesses.
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The purpose of this act was to fully protect individuals with mental illness.
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“Homeless in America” was a joint photo exhibit ran by Mental Health America and the Families for the Homeless. It connected homelessness with mental health and gave a better insight into what homeless people deal with beyond just a life on the streets.
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The Americans with Disabilities Act protects mentally and physically disabled Americans from discrimination in areas such as employment, public accommodations, transportation, telecommunications, and state and local government services.
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In joint efforts, Mental Health America, Congressional Black Caucus and the National Institute of Mental Health organized the first conference on The State of Mental Health and Mental Illness in Black America.
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In 2002 Mental Health America released the first-ever survey of children that concluded from its' findings that 78 percent of teens who were gay or thought of as gay had been teased or bullied.
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In 2003, the campaign Real Men. Real Depression was launched. This campaign informed men about depression and seeked to create awareness in men on the symptoms of depression.
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Mental Health America released survey results on the awareness of the bipolar disorder. Two-thirds of Americans know of this common illness.
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With advocacy from the Mental Health America, a landmark Supreme Court ruling declared the death penalty for juvenile offenders unconstitutional.
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Mental Health America advocated for the inclusion of mental health patients in the Affordable Care Act. Essential Health Benefits are a set of 10 categories of services health insurance plans must cover under the Affordable Care Act. The categories include doctors' services, hospital care, prescriptions, pregnancy and childbirth, mental health services, etc.
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First introduced in 2013 but to no success, Rep. Tim Murphy (R. PA) and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D. TX) reintroduce the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015 (“HFMHCA”, HR 2646). The act successfully passed in 2016.
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Mental Health America releases "LGBTQ+ Mental Health: Insights from MHA Screening". It highlights the challenges faced today by members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially children and teens.
