Mental hygiene movements

“”During the 1920, mental hygienists, inspired by Meyer’s psychobiology, had defined mental health in social terms as adjustment. The ability to hold down a job and to make one’s own living were seen as prime characteristics of adjustment and mental health. During the Depression years, it became much more difficult to maintain that individuals were out of work as a sole consequence of their lack of mental health. Incorporating psychoanalytic ideas, mental hygienists redefined adjustment as inner or emotional adjustment. Gainful employment was no longer considered essential for mental health; it was now see as useful as an outlet for the expression of pent-up emotions which could, if need arose, be replaced by other activities. Employment was now valued because it was instrumental in providing a sense of belonging – a sense which could be attained in many other ways as well” (Pols II, 379).