CHAPTER 13

Taking Depression out of the Closet

Depression has become widely recognized as a mental illness that can be discussed openly, treated with professional help and medication, and overcome. Sadly, this has not always been the case, and for some it remains a problem best left “in the closet.” Thankfully, public relations campaigns designed to educate the public about depression are changing the picture for the better.

 

From Drills to Pills

Attempts to treat mental illness date back as early as 5000 BCE, as evidenced by the discovery of trepanned skulls in regions that were home to ancient world cultures (Restak 2000). Early man widely believed that mental illness was the result of supernatural phenomena such as spiritual or demonic possession, ...

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