Guarding minds: The evolution of mental hygiene and stigmatization of mental illness in early 20th century Latin America

Abstract

This article explores the evolution of mental hygiene and the stigmatization of mental illness in Latin America during the 20th century. It examines how psychiatric reforms and the mental hygiene movement influenced the social perception of mental illness, highlighting the spread of psychological categories and the construction of stigmatizing language. Using the publications of mental hygiene groups and case analyses in various countries, it reveals how these practices contributed to marginalization and social control, shaping contemporary mental health policies.