The First Resort: The History of Social Psychiatry in the United States

Social psychiatry was a mid-twentieth-century approach to mental health that stressed the prevention of mental illness and argued that socioeconomic problems were the underlying causes. It contributed to the closure of psychiatric hospitals and the emergence of community mental health care, but by the 1980s, it was in decline due to the shift to biological psychiatry. The book "The First Resort" explores the lessons of social psychiatry and how progressive social policies can help stem rising rates of mental illness.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 424 pages
Publication date: 17 January 2023
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Social psychiatry emerged as a significant approach to mental health during the mid-twentieth century, placing a strong emphasis on preventing mental illness rather than solely treating it. Its proponents developed environmental explanations for mental health, attributing socioeconomic problems such as poverty, inequality, and social isolation to the underlying causes of mental illness. This perspective significantly influenced the closure of psychiatric hospitals and the emergence of community mental health care during the 1960s.

However, by the 1980s, social psychiatry had begun to decline, losing ground to biological psychiatry, which placed greater emphasis on genetics, neurology, and psychopharmacology. While some argue that social psychiatry's preventive approach was flawed, others suggest that its decline was primarily due to economic and political crises of the 1970s and the subsequent shift to the right, which limited the social changes necessary to create a more mentally healthy society.

In his book, The First Resort: A History of the Rise and Fall of Social Psychiatry, Matthew Smith examines four ambitious projects that investigated the relationship between socioeconomic factors and mental illness in Chicago, New Haven, New York City, and Nova Scotia. Smith argues that social psychiatry's decline was not due to any inherent flaws in its approach but rather to the broader social and political context in which it operated. He contends that social psychiatry provides valuable insights into how progressive social policies, such as a universal basic income, can help stem rising rates of mental illness in the present day.

Overall, social psychiatry's history highlights the complex interplay between social, economic, and political factors on mental health and the importance of addressing these factors to promote mental well-being. While its influence may have waned in recent decades, its lessons continue to be relevant and valuable in shaping our understanding and response to mental illness.

Weight: 520g
Dimension: 140 x 215 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231203937