Clifford W. Beers

Founded the National Mental Health Association in 1909 to improve mental health care and fight discrimination against people with mental illness. To instigate this reform, Beers courageously shared his own experience with mental illness in his autobiography, A Mind That Found Itself. This renowned book opened the nation's eyes to the mistreatment of people with mental illness and led to the creation of the modern mental health movement.

"A pen rather than a lance has been my weapon of offence and defence; with its point I should prick the civic conscience and bring into a neglected field men and women who should act as champions for those afflicted thousands least able to fight for themselves."

— Clifford W. Beers

Born: March 30, 1876 New Haven, CT
Died: July 9, 1943 Providence, RI

Clifford W. Beers has often been called the founder of the modern mental health movement. A man who had a mental disorder himself and received deplorable treatment, Beers devoted his life to advocacy on behalf of adults and children with mental illness in the United States and throughout the world. Through the telling of his experience and the subsequent creation of the National Mental Health Association, he revolutionized attitudes about and care for people with mental disorders.

In 1900, Beers, who had graduated from Yale and planned a career as a Wall Street financier, suffered his first episode of bipolar disorder (manic depressive illness) following the illness and death of his brother. For many years, Clifford had cared for his brother who suffered from convulsions (later thought to be epilepsy). In the throes of his illness, Beers attempted to take his own life by jumping out a third story window. Seriously injured but still alive, Beers ended up in public and private institutions in Connecticut for the next three years.

While in these institutions, Beers witnessed and was subject to horrible treatment, and mental and physical abuses from the hospital staff. It was during these dark days that Beers resolved to expose the maltreatment of people with mental illnesses.

In the midst of his recovery and despite the risk to his own well-being, Beers even managed to have himself transferred to the 'violent' ward in order to personally view the mistreatment of other individuals. At one point during his stay, he was confined to a straightjacket for 21 consecutive nights.

Upon his release, Beers set about recording his experience and thoughts on reforming the nation's treatment of people with mental illness. The result was his autobiography A Mind That Found Itself. In this groundbreaking book, Beers declared: "As I penetrated and conquered the mysteries of that dark side of my life, it no longer held any terror for me. I have decided to stand on my past and look the future in the face."

The famed philosopher Dr. William James, who had been moved by early drafts of the book, wrote the preface. Published in 1908, the book awoke the public to the struggle of people with mental illness and the shameful state of mental health care in America. It had an immediate impact, spreading his vision of a massive mental health reform movement. It was later translated into several foreign languages and was well received across the globe.

The same year as the release of his autobiography, Beers set about creating organizations that would realize his vision for reform. On May 6, 1908, Beers and 13 others met in New Haven, Connecticut to launch that effort. They established the Connecticut Society for Mental Hygiene, the first of several state societies that would work to improve mental health care and reduce stigma.

A year later, recognizing the need for a national approach, Beers sought to create an organization through which "the best ideas in the world may be crystallized and passed along." On February 11, 1909, Beers and others created the National Committee for Mental Hygiene, the precursor to today's National Mental Health Association. The organization set forth the following goals:

• to improve attitudes toward mental illness and the mentally ill.
• to improve services for the mentally ill.
• to work for the prevention of mental illness and promote mental health.

The National Committee began fulfilling its mission of change immediately, initiating successful reforms in several states. In 1920, the Committee produced a set of model commitment laws, which were subsequently incorporated into the statutes of several states. The Committee also conducted influential studies on mental health, mental illness, and treatment, prompting real changes in the mental health care system.

With these successes, Beers sought to bring the movement worldwide. In 1930, he organized the First International Congress for Mental Hygiene. The Congress convened more than 3,000 individuals from forty-one countries for constructive dialogue about fulfilling the mission of the mental health movement. This gathering prompted Beers the following year to establish the International Committee for Mental Hygiene, known today as the World Federation for Mental Health.

While he continued to suffer periods of depression and of "elation," as he put it, Beers was unflagging in pushing the movement forward. For his lifelong efforts, he received many honors including the Gold Medal of the National Institute of Social Sciences and the Cross of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor from the French government. The movement he started was well established. At the time of his death in 1943, the national association had more than 40 state divisions and 700 chapters across the United States.

Since his death, Beers' legacy has grown even larger. It is seen today in the advocacy, education and services reform efforts of the National Mental Health Association and its 340 affiliates across the country. More and more mentally ill people now seek out the care they need. Beers' legacy is also evident in the growth and empowerment of the mental health consumer movement in which individuals are becoming active decision makers in their own care and advocacy.

Clifford Beers changed mental health care forever to the benefit of past, current and future generations of people in the United States and throughout the world.


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