In honor of September being suicide prevention month, this article will be discussing mental health. Mental health is something to be taken very seriously, as one in five teens suffer from at least one mental disorder (National Alliance on Mental Illness). If you or someone you know suffers from a mental illness, please make sure they have the support they need. With that said, these depictions of mental health and/or illness in this article do not represent the author’s beliefs concerning mental health, for these descriptions are that of over 1,000 years ago. Viewer discretion is advised.
Although less commonly studied, Roman fascination with the human psyche can be traced back to 500 BC. Moreover, mental health in Rome was found to be far less stigmatized than it is today. Although earlier physicians (psychology wasn't quite its own discipline yet) studied more visible disorders such as antisocial personality disorder and substance abuse, concepts of depression and anxiety were later developed in 500 AD. In addition, most common people thought that mental illness came from the gods, but physicians tried to fight that belief as much as possible.
As far as treatment went, remedies revolved around religious ceremonies and counseling; pharmaceuticals weren’t used for this purpose yet. Hippocrates is known as one one the first classical scientists to categorize mental illness, as he illustrated the concepts of mania, anxiety, and depression. Although his treatments such as withdrawing blood were a little questionable, he ultimately led other physicians to consider mental health separate from physiological health. One of the most influential physicians in Rome, who came to be known as the forefather to modern psychology, was the physician to Marucus Aurelius and Commodus. Galen of Pergamum was a surgeon, physician, and even philosopher who created the theory that the psyche and somatic system were one. He was the first to believe that bodily processes affected the human mind, which was a radical idea at the time (200 AD). Another highly influential physician was Cealius Aurelianus. Although considered second to Galen, his works are highly regarded as well. He lived in Algeria (a Roman territory) in 500 AD, and wrote the most clear guide to diagnose patients and how to counsel them.
Mental health clearly has a different reputation today, but it is more thoroughly studied. As methodology has changed vastly, Greco-Roman physicians played a crucial role in the development of the current science. These people created a foundation from which modern scientists are able to work from today. In essence, looking back at the past may actually serve the future.
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