Dorothea Dix and her Contributions to Human Services
Dorothea Lynde Dix stands out as one of the most prominent individuals who contributed significantly to the progress of human services delivery in the United States. Born in 1802 in Hampden town, Dorothea Dix's background is believed to have involved neglect by parents, poverty and possible experience of mental instability all of which contributed to her particular interest in the issues surrounding the welfare of prisoners and the mentally ill. In fact, Whiteman mentions that Dorothea was instrumental in the expansion of more than 30 health facilities dedicated to the treatment of mental illnesses. Dix also championed national and international movements discrediting the belief that mental illness was incurable. In her quest to improve human services, Dorothea strongly criticized the mistreatment and neglect actions towards the mentally ill and prisoners for example painful restraining, caging and even imprisonment without clothing.
Dorothea Dix: The Modern-day Revolution in Human Services
According to Burger the middle of the 19th century saw the establishment of Dorothea Dix as the epitome of the modern-day revolution in human services (148). Dix actively engaged in efforts including the garnering of public support in an attempt to implement required changes in the otherwise inhumane conditions in the mental asylums and prisons. After a thorough personal investigation of the facilities in the United States, Dix took her time to write various articles highlighting the suffering of this disadvantaged populace. Through contacting legislators, Dix was able to lobby successfully for the provision of information and education to the general public. Ultimately, the most significant outcomes of her campaign facilitated the advancement of human services including the development of better psychiatric hospitals in place of the poorly run community facilities, change in perception regarding the mentally ill and most of all, the creation of new institutions across the nation that recognized the individual rights of the affected people (Burger 148).
Question
Do the modern-day state-run psychiatric hospitals assure the humane treatment of the mentally ill or are there cases of cruelty even though not as farfetched as before?
Works Cited
Burger, William. Human services in contemporary America. Boston, MA : Cengage Learning, 2018.
Whiteman, Honor. "Dorothea Dix: Redefining mental illness." 5 May 2017. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317321.php. Accessed 14 February 2018.
