History of MH

Florence Nightingale

Founder of modern nursing; emphasized sanitation, proper lighting, diet, and recreation in patient care.

Dorothea Dix

Advocate for the mentally ill; established 32 asylums across the U.S. and Canada, promoting humane treatment.

Linda Richards

Pioneer in mental health nursing education; established the Boston City Hospital Training School for Nurses.

Harriet Bailey

Author of the first psychiatric nursing textbook; emphasized the need for specialized training.

Effie Jane Taylor

Initiated the first psychiatric nursing program; emphasized patient-centered care.

Hildegard Peplau

Revolutionized nurse-patient relationships with her interpersonal relations theory and established a graduate-level nursing program.

Hattie Bessent

Advocated for minority nurses and developed programs to support their education.

Bessie Blount Griffin

Developed innovative care methods for World War II veterans.

Asylums

Historically, institutions for the mentally ill, often associated with inhumane care.

Psychotropic Medications

Medications developed in the 1950s that revolutionized mental health treatment and improved patient independence.

Deinstitutionalization

Movement to transfer patients from state hospitals to community-based care.

Hill Burton Act

1946, Federal funding for the construction of psychiatric units in hospitals, to improve access to mental health care for those without insurance

National Mental Health Act

1946, Provided funding for research and training in mental health

Community Mental Health Centers Act

1963, Provide a comprehensive range of mental health services, apart of deinstitutionalization

Affordable Care Act

2010, Recognized mental health care as an essential heath benefit, requiring insurance plans to cover the expenses

Patient Bill of Rights

Legislation that ensures the dignity and autonomy of individuals with mental health issues.

American Nurses Association (ANA)

Founded in 1896 to improve nursing standards and advocate for nurses' welfare.

National League for Nursing (NLN)

Founded in 1893 to promote excellence in nursing education.

American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA)

Founded in 1986 to provide leadership in psychiatric nursing.

National Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (NALPN)

Founded in 1941 to advocate for licensed practical nurses.

National Black Nurses Association (NBNA)

Founded in 1971 to advocate for healthcare needs of African Americans.

American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN)

Founded in 1981 to address challenges faced by men in nursing.

Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI)

Founded in 1922 to support professional development of nurses.

Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act

Legislation addressing disparities in mental health treatment.

National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service (NAPNES)

To promote quality nursing service through the practice of practical and vocational nurses

National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations (NCEMNA)

Advocate for equity and justice in nursing and healthcare for ethnic minority populations

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)

To advance nursing education and to promote the interests of nursing schools and programs