一颗找回自我的心

by Clifford Whittingham Beers

本书是心理卫生运动创始人比尔斯?克利富德所著,记录了他患精神疾病住精神病院前后的种种遭遇以及内心的思考和体验。此书首版于1908年此后连年再版，迄今已经再版50余次，被称为全世界心理卫生运动的开山之作，是一本具有世界影响的书。要想了解心理卫生问题的来龙去脉，此书不可不读。
18 岁就读于耶鲁大学商科。毕业后，到纽约一家保险公司工作。比尔斯的哥哥患有癫痫，他目睹其兄病情发作时昏倒在地、四肢抽搐、口吐泡沫的可怕情景，担心这种病会遗传到自己身上，于是终日惶恐不安。24 岁时，比尔斯因精神失常从四楼跳下，经人救起被送往精神病医院治疗。在 3 年的住院期间，他经历了当时精神病院中种种非人的待遇，目睹了病友们遭受的不可言状的痛苦，立志将自己的余生贡献给精神病人，并终生从事预防精神病工作。
病愈后，1908 年，他将自己在病中的所见所闻写成了一本自传著作：《一颗找回自我的心》（A Mind That Found Itself），标志着近代心理健康运动的开始。在这本书中，他用生动的笔墨，历数了当时精神病院的冷酷和落后，详细记述了自己的病情、治疗和康复经过，并且向世人发出改善精神病者待遇的强烈呼声。

270 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2001

About the author

The founder of the mental hygiene movement, Clifford Whittingham Beers (1876–1943) launched one of the earliest client-advocate health reform movements in the United States. A former patient who was institutionalized for three years, Beers led national and international efforts to improve institutional care, challenge the stigma of mental illness, and promote mental health. His efforts resulted in a major shift in attitudes toward mental illness, as well as the introduction of guidance counselors in US schools and the inclusion of evidence of a defendant's psychological state in law courts.

Beers was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1876, to Ida Cooke and Robert Beers. The couple suffered a series of tragedies, including the death of one child in infancy. A second child, who began having seizures as a teenager, also died early, and as a young man Clifford worried that he would develop the same condition. Although he and three other siblings lived into adulthood, all died in mental health institutions—two by committing suicide.

Beers graduated from Yale University's Sheffield Scientific School in 1897, after experiencing frequent bouts of depression as a student. Over the next three years, he worked as a clerk in New York City, gradually becoming increasingly anxious and distressed. In June 1900, he returned to the family home and tried to kill himself by throwing himself from his bedroom window. While in the hospital recovering from these injuries, he experienced hallucinations and paranoia. As he convalesced at home, his mental state deteriorated further and he gave up speaking, convinced that he and his family were in grave danger. His family decided to place Beers in an institution for the care of the mentally ill.

Between 1900 and 1903, he was hospitalized at Stamford Hall, The Hartford Retreat, and the Connecticut State Hospital at Middletown. He was mistreated by staff, experiencing physical abuse and degrading treatment, and resolved to campaign for reform. After his release, he returned to New York City but suffered a relapse and spent the last few months of 1904 back at the Hartford Retreat. In January 1905, he left the institution and completed a book about his experiences, A Mind That Found Itself (1908). The book made an immediate impact and helped to launch the mental health reform movement in the United States. By acknowledging the seriousness of his condition as well as highlighting the brutal practices that may have slowed his recovery, Beers' example helped to remove the stigma of mental illness among the general public. Psychiatrist Adolf Meyer wrote an enthusiastic review and united with Beers in his campaign for reform.

Two months after the publication of his book, Beers joined with Meyer, physician William H. Welch, and philosopher William James to found the Connecticut Society for Mental Hygiene to improve standards of care and attitudes toward the mentally ill, and to prevent mental illness and promote mental health. In 1909, Beers launched the National Committee for Mental Hygiene, which spearheaded legal reforms in several states, provided grants for research into the causes of psychiatric disorders, and funded training for medical students. The organization also published the quarterly magazines Mental Hygiene and Understanding the Child to raise public awareness of mental health issues.

Beers received great recognition during his lifetime for his pivotal role in the mental health movement. He was awarded an honorary degree by Yale University for his contribution to humanity and in 1933, Welch presented him with a book of tributes from hundreds of leading figures involved in mental health care. In 1950, the International Committee joined with the National Mental Health Foundation and the Psychiatric Foundation. Known today as Mental Health America, the organization continues Beers' mission to raise awareness and promote the highest standards in mental health services.