Mental Health Through the Decades: How Community Has Shaped—and Saved—Us

From policy shifts to celebrity advocacy to AI-powered support, a century of evolution reminds us: healing is never a solo act.

Mental health hasn't always been something we talked about. For much of the past century, it was tucked away—stigmatized, institutionalized, or ignored altogether. But thanks to the combined efforts of policymakers, medical breakthroughs, grassroots movements, and outspoken public figures, mental health care has gradually transformed from an isolated problem to a collective responsibility.

As we reflect on Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re taking a journey through time to explore the key moments, innovations, and people that brought mental health into the light—and into community care. We'll also touch on today’s political climate, including recent budget cuts to suicide prevention hotlines, and why staying informed and vocal matters more than ever.

🏛️ 1960s: Government Reform and the Birth of Community Mental Health

Key moment: JFK signs the Community Mental Health Act (1963) 

President John F. Kennedy’s vision for mental health care was revolutionary for its time: rather than isolating individuals in long-term psychiatric institutions, he believed in localized, community-based treatment.

In particular, he hoped to liberate the population of confined patients with mental illness through advancements in psychopharmacology and supportive housing. He was emotionally drawn to issues of mental illness and intellectual disability because of his sister Rosemary, who underwent a lobotomy that significantly worsened her quality of life.

The Community Mental Health Act aimed to build 1,500 community centers across the U.S.—a bold step toward accessible care.

Shortly after, Medicare and Medicaid were introduced, expanding mental health coverage for older adults and low-income families. These government-funded programs were essential in beginning to bridge the gap in access to care, though implementation gaps still left many without support.

This was the first major recognition that mental health is a public health issue, not a personal failure—and that the solution must involve collective care.

🧠 1990s: The Science Behind the Brain—The Decade That Changed Everything

Key moment: The "Decade of the Brain," declared by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, was a national initiative to increase funding and research into neuroscience. The initiative aimed to boost understanding of the brain, develop treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders, and promote education about the brain. 

During this time, breakthroughs in neuroimaging tools like fMRI and PET scans gave researchers new insight into how the brain processes emotion, memory, and trauma.

Studies Revealed:

Neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to rewire itself, even after trauma:

Previously, it was believed that brain development stopped after childhood and that damage was permanent. Neuroplasticity gave rise to new hope for healing--especially for trauma survivors, stroke victims, and those with chronic mental illness.

The Neurobiology of PTSD and ADHD:

Studies showed that trauma physically alters the brain—specifically, the amygdala (fear response) becomes hyperactive, while the prefrontal cortex (reasoning) and hippocampus (memory) often shrink or become dysregulated.

This confirmed that trauma is not “just in your head” but lives in the body and brain, giving rise to the field of trauma-informed care.

Additionally, scans showed differences in dopamine regulation and executive functioning in children and adults with ADHD.

This helped reduce stigma by affirming ADHD as a legitimate neurological condition, not a behavioral problem or lack of willpower.

Serotonin, SSRIs, and the Rise (and Reconsideration) of the Chemical Imbalance Model:

The 1990s also saw the widespread prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil.

Findings included:

• Serotonin levels were found to influence mood, sleep, appetite, and overall emotional regulation.

• SSRIs worked by increasing the availability of serotonin in the brain—offering relief for many struggling with depression and anxiety.

These findings helped destigmatize depression by framing it as a chemical issue, not a character flaw, and gave people a biological explanation for their suffering, which was validating and often a first step toward seeking help.

However, as the decade progressed, some researchers and clinicians began to critique the “chemical imbalance” narrative as overly simplistic. Depression and anxiety are now understood to involve multiple factors—biological, psychological, social, and environmental.

🌟 2010s-early 2020's: Mental Health Becomes a Public Conversation

Key moment: Robin Williams dies by suicide in 2014; son Zak Williams becomes a mental health advocate

Before the 2010's, there was still a heavy stigmatism towards talking about personal mental health challenges openly. That all changed when several celebrities opened up about their struggles and made mental health a public conversation.

One such instance was the death of Robin Williams in 2014, which sent shockwaves throughout the world. In the wake of his father’s death, Zak Williams opened up about his own experiences with grief, PTSD, and substance use--and how his wife turned him on to amino acid therapy, which was a saving grace for his mental health.

Zak's own mental health journey inspired him to help others. In 2020, Zak and Olivia co-founded PYM (Prepare Your Mind)—so you can be proactive and prepare your mind to handle everyday stressors and life events that take a toll on mental health with science-backed nutrients.

Other pivotal moments from this decade:

• Simone Biles courageously withdrew from Olympic events to prioritize her mental health, challenging performance culture

• Michael Phelps spoke openly about suicidal thoughts and the importance of therapy

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shed light on mental health in the royal family and promoted therapy among men and minorities

These stories broke down walls—especially for men and BIPOC communities. Vulnerability became a source of strength. Mental health became part of pop culture, not just psychology textbooks.

💵 mid 2020s-Current: Budget Cuts to Mental Health Services

Key moment: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launches in 2022, then faces budget cuts in 2024

In 2022, the U.S. launched 988, a three-digit alternative to 911 for mental health emergencies. Designed to offer quick, accessible support from trained counselors, the 988 lifeline became a vital tool—especially for young people, veterans, LGBTQ+ communities, and those in emotional crisis.

When people call 988, there is a prompt for callers who identify as LGBTQ+. Their call is then routed to a specialized center that is funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Since July 2022, there have been nearly 1.3 million calls, texts and chats from LGBTQ+ people nationally to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, according to the federal administration.

But in April 2025, a federal budget proposal by the Trump Administration was leaked, which proposed to eliminate services for LGBTQ+ youth through the 988 crisis line. Advocates say that millions of LGBTQ+ people in need of mental health support would face dire, potentially life-threatening circumstances if President Trump’s plan to cut funding for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is approved by Congress.

LGBTQ+ youths are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers, according to the Trevor Project, a national nonprofit focused on suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ young people. Research from the nonprofit estimates that at least one LGBTQ+ youth attempts suicide every 45 seconds in the United States.

The budget would go into effect in October if approved by Congress.

How you can help:

• Contact your representatives to oppose mental health crisis funding cuts

• Share local and national mental health resources on social media

• Donate to nonprofits filling the gaps left by federal programs, like The Trevor Project and the Trans Lifeline

📱 mid 2020s-Current: The Age of AI

Key moment: ChatGPT and AI-powered mental health apps gain traction in 2023–2025

As therapy waitlists grow and mental health demand soars, many are turning to AI for support and wondering, "Can ChatGPT replace my therapist?". Tools like ChatGPT are being explored as “emotional support chatbots,” offering journaling prompts, self-soothing scripts, and CBT-style exercises.

In fact, a recent survey by the nonprofit Sentio Marriage and Family Therapy program reveals a potentially paradigm-shifting trend: 48.7% of respondents who both use AI and self-report mental health challenges are utilizing major Language Learning Models like ChatGPT for therapeutic support.

The survey reported that 73% use LLMs for anxiety management, 63% for personal advice, 60% for depression support, 58% for emotional insight, 56% for mood improvement, 36% to practice communication skills and 35% to feel less lonely. Over over 63% of participants who used LLMs found it improved their mental health and well-being.

One February 2025 study by PLOS Mental Health even found that AI can write empathically and the generated content is rated highly by therapists and even outperforms professionals. 

However, mental health professionals generally do not recommend using AI as a full replacement for therapy, though they do recognize some benefits of using the tool for patients and in their own practice.

The Pros and Cons of using AI for therapy:

Pros:

• Journaling and self reflection
• Brainstorming and problem solving
• Providing a non-judgmental space for processing emotions
• Accessibility and convenience
• May help identify feelings
• Helpful for therapy notes and crafting patient plans

Cons:

• Lack of nuance or trauma awareness in sensitive situations
• Can't replace the therapeutic relationship
• Reinforcement of unhealthy behaviors (constant reassurance-seeking)
• Overreliance on a second opinion can impede independent decision making skills
• AI bias based on training data
• Confidentiality and data security
  
• Lack of human connection and co-regulation

💬 Final Thoughts: We Heal Together

Mental health is no longer a private shame—it’s a public dialogue. From JFK’s vision of community-based care to Zak Williams' work making nervous system support more accessible, we’ve come a long way.

But with budget cuts to suicide prevention hotlines and AI tools growing faster than regulation, this is a pivotal moment. We need to double down on what works: empathy, access, human connection, and community-led solutions.

Healing is not a solo act. It never has been.