Since the 1800s, methods of treating mental illness have expanded significantly around the world. From electrotherapy to modern practices like psychotherapy, the treatment of mental disorders has advanced significantly as scientists and psychologists learn more information about the causes of mental illness and the best treatment for each particular illness. The last 200 years mark the most defined era since the beginning of humanity for the progression of treatment of mental illness. Not only has the treatment of the mentally ill improved, but the perception of mental illness has also changed significantly and will continue to change as more is learned about the human mind. In the past, mental illness was a taboo subject and there was fear. the subject. However, remarkable progress has been made in determining the causes of disease and in evaluating the most effective treatments specialized for each specific disease. According to the American Psychotic Association, “A mental illness is a medical problem that interferes with a person's thinking, feelings, mood, ability to interact with others, and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are conditions that often result in a diminished ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life. of the brain, until recently, the mentally ill were considered incurable subhuman creatures. Porter argues that: Many believed that the mentally ill brought it upon themselves, through moral or religious transgressions. They had the impression that gods or other spirits were punishing these “criminals” with illness. Others were thought to be under the spell of evil spirits, the devil or vi...... middle of paper ......ng released, believing independent living was the answer. It is estimated that “in the 1980s, an estimated one-third of all homeless people in America were considered seriously mentally ill. » (Foershner) Today, the most widely recognized and effective method of treating mental illness is through the use of both medication and medication. as well as some type of therapy based on the diagnosed disorder. Perceptions of mental health have changed dramatically since the 1800s and will continue to advance as more is learned about the human mind. Significant progress has been made in this area, but much remains to be done as more is learned. From barbaric assumptions about the mentally ill in the 1800s to what is known today about mental illness and the human brain, these achievements can undoubtedly be described as "a giant leap for humanity »..”