The Mental Hygiene Movement

The Mental Hygiene Movement, emerging in the early 20th century, aimed to improve mental health through prevention and early intervention. It emphasized educating the public about mental well-being, reducing stigma, and promoting practices to maintain mental health before problems became severe. The movement believed that mental health was just as important as physical health and advocated for community-based care and early treatment to prevent mental illnesses from worsening. Its goal was to create healthier, more understanding societies where individuals received support early on, ultimately reducing the burden on mental health institutions.