moral treatment

Moral treatment was an approach to caring for people with mental illness that emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries. It emphasized kindness, respect, and a nurturing environment rather than punishment or restraint. The idea was to provide patients with a supportive atmosphere, including meaningful work, social interactions, and recreational activities, which could help improve their mental well-being. By fostering dignity and social connection, moral treatment aimed to promote recovery and integration into society, setting the stage for more modern therapeutic practices in mental health care.