Psychiatry & Society

History of Psychiatry | Prof. Elizabeth Lunbeck

October 23, 2023 Reuben Hendler, MD Season 1 Episode 8
Psychiatry & Society
History of Psychiatry | Prof. Elizabeth Lunbeck
Show Notes Chapter Markers

We may be used to thinking about mental health through the lens of psychology. What might we learn from looking through a different lens? Diverse fields of study can bring new insight - Sociology, Anthropology, Urban Studies, Political Science, Philosophy, Biology, to name a few. On this episode, we look through the lens of History at our central question - what makes for a mentally healthy society? Our guest, Elizabeth Lunbeck PhD, chairs the Department of the History of Science at Harvard University.

Introduction
(How) can we compare mental health across time?
Benefits and pitfalls of national conversation around mental health
How has psychiatry reinforced or challenged restrictive social norms?
How would "psychotherapy for all" influence society?
Most and least successful historical efforts to improve mental health
Biggest lessons from history
Looking forward
How has your mind changed?
Concluding thoughts