A Short History of Mental Health

Diet

How a Corn-Based Diet Led to Mental Illness

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on January 29, 2024

How could corn cause mental illness? The history of the disease pellagra could help us better understand the link between diet and mental health.

How could corn cause mental illness? The history of the disease pellagra could help us better understand the link between diet and mental health.

Environment

Is Urban Living Bad for Your Mental Health?

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on October 13, 2023

What makes cities good or bad for mental health?

What makes cities good or bad for mental health?

Psychiatry

Hydrotherapy in a Prairie Asylum

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on July 14, 2023

Hydrotherapy was used in many asylums, including those in remote locations. But was this practice a form of treatment or punishment?

Hydrotherapy was used in many asylums, including those in remote locations. But was this practice a form of treatment or punishment?

Environment

The Chicago School and Mental Health

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on March 14, 2023

Where did psychiatric epidemiology evolve? Look to the Windy City.

Where did psychiatric epidemiology evolve? Look to the Windy City.

Health

Why We Should Prioritize Preventive Approaches to Mental Health

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on November 25, 2022

What should be our " first resort" when it comes to mental health?

What should be our " first resort" when it comes to mental health?

Health

Song and Sanity: Music as Treatment in 19th-Century Asylums

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on June 13, 2022

Can music be good for mental health? They thought so in the 19th century.

Can music be good for mental health? They thought so in the 19th century.

Psychiatry

Psychosurgery and Mental Illness

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on March 9, 2022

Why did psychosurgery become so popular during the middle of the 20th century?

Why did psychosurgery become so popular during the middle of the 20th century?

Environment

Consumption, Climate Change, and Mental Health

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on November 12, 2021

Could we curb our consumption to help the planet? Would it improve our mental health?

Could we curb our consumption to help the planet? Would it improve our mental health?

Health

Can Nature Boost Mental Health?

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on May 21, 2021

The history of a long-forgotten psychiatric disorder known as "neurasthenia" suggests it can.

The history of a long-forgotten psychiatric disorder known as "neurasthenia" suggests it can.

Career

Stories of Financial Insecurity and Mental Health

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on February 18, 2021

Has financial insecurity ever affected your mental health?

Has financial insecurity ever affected your mental health?

Health

World War II and Mental Health

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on November 17, 2020

The Second World War changed the way we see mental health. Will COVID-19 do the same?

The Second World War changed the way we see mental health. Will COVID-19 do the same?

Loneliness

Social Isolation and COVID-19

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on August 19, 2020

What can the history of social psychiatry tell us about social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic?

What can the history of social psychiatry tell us about social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic?

ADHD

The Nervous Child

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on May 12, 2020

What kind of kids concerned child experts before ADHD? The opposite type of kid.

What kind of kids concerned child experts before ADHD? The opposite type of kid.

Health

Mental Health Crises for Ph.D. Students?

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on February 11, 2020

How can we prevent student mental health problems? Could a different attitude and plan help?

How can we prevent student mental health problems? Could a different attitude and plan help?

Health

Universal Basic Income and Mental Health

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on November 4, 2019

Want to learn more about how Universal Basic Income might be good for mental health? Read on.

Want to learn more about how Universal Basic Income might be good for mental health? Read on.

Health

Peace of Mind

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on July 27, 2019

Could a Universal Basic Income help to prevent mental illness?

Could a Universal Basic Income help to prevent mental illness?

Environment

Neurodiversity and Climate Change

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on April 25, 2019

Does the success of climate change schoolgirl, Greta Thunberg, suggest we should rethink neurodiversity?

Does the success of climate change schoolgirl, Greta Thunberg, suggest we should rethink neurodiversity?

Health

Cathedrals of the Mind

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on January 17, 2019

What happened to asylum buildings after they closed?

What happened to asylum buildings after they closed?

Health

Does "Rugged Individualism" Undermine Mental Health?

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on September 19, 2018

Should the balance between the individual and the community shift for the sake of mental health?

Should the balance between the individual and the community shift for the sake of mental health?

ADHD

Dennis the Menace and ADHD

Matthew Smith Ph.D. on March 31, 2018

Why we went from celebrating misbehavior to diagnosing it.

Why we went from celebrating misbehavior to diagnosing it.