The history of mental health treatments is a dark and severe one; it was only a relatively short time ago in human history that we subjected even those suffering from a tad of melancholy to barbaric physical therapies and public ridicule. Beginning in the 1800s, the term ‘mental hygiene’ was used to refer to those experiencing a range of disorders from generalised anxiety to alcoholism (Baton Rouge Behavioural Hospital), and conditions such as depression, PTSD and bipolar disorder were known respectively as hysteria, shellshock and psychosis. Cases viewed as more severe were blamed on demonic possession and lobotomies were routinely performed, and so began the stigma of mental health issues we as a society are still shaking off today. As recently as the mid to late 20th century, most people recoiled away from those experiencing any sort of mental breakdown and deemed it appropriate that they should be locked away from the rest of the population — such is the case for the main character in Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, a novel that was greatly personalised to the author herself and serves as a sadly accurate representation for the treatment of mental illness seventy years ago.
Sylvia Plath was a 20th-century author and poet who described the nature of her work in a 1962 interview as ‘this intense breakthrough into a very serious, very personal, very emotional experience which I feel has partly been a taboo’ (Phutela, 2022). She wrote only one novel, The Bell Jar, now praised as an American classic; the book is centred around Esther, a young woman who has become disillusioned with her life in New York and quickly spirals into a state of mental despair. The story begins in 1953, ten years before it was published, and highlights the disturbing treatments Esther undergoes in attempts to ‘fix’ her depression which were considered normal or even necessary during this period. The Bell Jar is semi-autobiographical, as Plath herself was diagnosed with clinical depression and was treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) multiple times before her suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. It is likely that stigma around and poor treatment for mental health issues could have contributed to Plath’s decision to end her own life.
Luckily, attitudes have improved greatly in the last half-century. In modern-day Britain, it is almost assured you will not be immediately cast out of society should you have an issue with your mental health, and doctors and nurses will not label you as clinically insane. If Esther (or, indeed, Plath) were experiencing her mental decline in today’s society, she would probably be offered a much better level of support. She might have access to both in and outpatient counselling and multiple niches of therapy, and the range of 21st-century medications is more extensive and functional than ever. It is becoming more and more common to request ‘mental health days off from work, and practices such as meditation, non-Western exercise regimes such as yoga and other coping mechanisms are mostly encouraged rather than scoffed at. Furthermore, crucially, almost everybody understands the debilitating effects of poor mental health, and personal affiliation breeds empathy.
However, we have a long way to go. There are still shocking examples of patients facing discrimination in facilities today. In the Edenfield Centre near Manchester, a 23-year-old woman faced weeks in isolation this year after hospital staff called her a ‘cancer’ in the ward (McLennan, 2022). Hospital seclusions should only be used in the most severe cases where patients are a danger to themselves or others, and even then, the time one spends in these prison-like rooms should be minimal. Unfortunately, there has been a steep rise in long-term isolations, especially in the last couple of years (see Figure 1). The practice is almost reminiscent of old strategies to lock patients away in strait-jackets which, although sometimes necessary for the wellbeing of the patient, is a way of making a person feel less than human.
Figure 1: ‘Rise in recorded very long seclusions’, NHS Digital through the BBC.
On a broader scale, there are further issues faced by people suffering from mental health issues who seek treatment for simply coping with everyday life. Reaching out to doctors, mental health nurses or therapists and counsellors can be daunting, and most people seeking basic treatment solutions such as counselling or prescriptions will endure the long waiting lists for NHS-funded and even private treatments. After this, there is of course no guarantee that any one method will work for you, as everyone reacts to these remedies differently on a physical and emotional level, so finding a concrete solution can take time and patience. Facing such difficulties, it’s easy to brush off your problems as something to deal with at a later time, or view them as insignificant in comparison to others around you; this is especially true considering the negative effects of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis have had on everyone’s mental health. It’s important to note that if you feel you need professional help, you should not be put off trying to obtain it.
If you are experiencing anxieties related to current economical, environmental or financial issues or are simply feeling low, there are plenty of online and in-person safe spaces. While social media can sometimes be harmful in regards to self-esteem issues or online harassment, some platforms can be used as a tool to express yourself, and many activists and small groups of ‘influencers’ have already helped to break down the stigma surrounding mental illness. If you’re after advice via a phone call, Nightline is a free association for students at certain universities and colleges that’s entirely confidential and anonymous, or Samaritans is also free of charge for all and open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 116 123. Call NHS 111 (within the UK) or NHS 112 (when you’re in the UK or abroad) for non-emergencies such as questions about attending A&E, or contact your local pharmacist regarding medication enquiries. If you’d like advice about local counselling services, it’s best to go through your GP. The contact for the National Suicide Prevention Helpline (UK) is 0800 689 5652. The universally-known 999 is of course the number for medical emergencies.
References
Baton Rouge Behavioural Hospital (no date). ‘The Surprising History of Mental Illness Treatment’, Baton Rouge Behavioural Hospital [online]. Available at: https://batonrougebehavioral.com/the-surprising-history-of-mental-illness-treatment/ (accessed 26/10/22).
McLennan, W. (2022). & Panorama team. ‘Hospital seclusion: ‘I’ve been treated like an animal’’, BBC News [online]. 28 September 2022. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63049874 (accessed 26/10/22).
Phutela, A. (2022). ‘Mental Health, Gender And Survival: Engaging With Sylvia Plath’s Literary Universe’, Feminism India [online]. 30 March 2022. Available at: https://feminisminindia.com/2022/03/30/mental-health-gender-and-survival-engaging-with-sylvia-plaths-literary-universe/ (accessed 26/10/22).
ADDITIONAL: Mind’s ‘Crisis services and planning for a crisis’ links available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/crisis-services/helplines-listening-services/ (accessed 26/10/22).
Sylvia Plath
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