First celebrated in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month was commemorated by the Mental Health America organization, then known as the National Committee for Mental Hygiene and later as the National Mental Health Association before it got its current name. The association was founded by Clifford Whittingham Beers. Beers, born in 1876 in Connecticut, was one of five children in his family who all suffered from mental illness and psychological distress. All of them also went on to spend time at mental institutions and from his hospital admittance, discovered that the mental health field had a notorious reputation for malpractice, maltreatment, and immense bias.
Beers went on to author “A Mind That Found Itself”, which is a bestseller even today. Gaining popularity and support from medical professionals, Beers founded the National Committee for Mental Hygiene. He and his colleagues at the association wanted to find ways to make sure that mental health patients not only received the right care but also did not feel alone in their fight against mental diseases.
Since 1949, each year, a theme is selected to be highlighted and celebrated throughout May.
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Mental Health Organizations
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- Mental Health and Me - The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)
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