Introduction
The mental health of individuals is a critical aspect fundamental to their well-being and the ability to live in society. For this reason, researchers have always investigated it to create methods that can help people feel better. Thus, behavioral health emerged as the result of the historical development of science.
It refers to the mental health of an individual and substance use disorders, stressors, crises, and symptoms associated with stress and critical events occurring in the life of individuals (Buscemi & Hendrick, 2018). All these factors impact people’s behaviors, meaning it is vital to investigate them. Thus, behavioral health evolved, responding to significant events occurring in societies and the world.
The Factors of the Behavioral Health Evolution
World War I
The world war became the first critical catalyst for the development of the sphere. Military operations, the risk of death, and injuries cause severe impacts on the mental health of individuals and might cause critical, often irreversible changes in their mental health (Rzeszutek et al., 2020). Moreover, post-traumatic stress disorders often lead to substance abuse and associated behavioral changes (Rzeszutek et al., 2020). For this reason, attempts were made to improve understanding of this aspect.
For instance, in 1918, the American Medico-Psychological Association created the Statistical Manual for the Use of Institutions for the Insane (“History of the DSM,” 2022). It was a serious step towards developing behavioral health. The emergence of the theoretical framework and tools was critical for using scientific methods to research specific aspects (Gravetter & Forzano, 2019). As a result, new methods for working with individuals emerged.
Denationalization
Denationalization was another vital event impacting the development of behavioral health. The process implies shifting care from psychiatric hospitals to community mental health services (Fulone et al., 2021). It means it became vital to investigate patients’ behaviors in their families and community-based homes. As a result, new strategies and methods of promoting positive change and creating mental health policies emerged.
The behavioral health sphere benefited from the interdisciplinary approach to generating and sharing new knowledge (Fulone et al., 2021). It means that denationalization promoted the evolution of the sphere and created the ability to acquire data from homes and other social institutions, which is vital for research and better outcomes.
The Creation of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Finally, establishing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) became an essential step in the evolution of behavioral health. The first DSM was created in 1952 due to prolonged data collection and an increased number of patients after the World War (“History of the DSM,” 2022). Since then, the manual has been updated, which can be viewed as a result of the behavioral health evolution.
Using DSM, mental health specialists acquired the chance to work with patients better and provide more holistic care (Stein et al., 2021). At the same time, DSM created the theoretical framework for the further evolution of science, and it’s becoming more effective in helping individuals suffering from severe mental health issues.
Conclusion
Altogether, behavioral health is one of the critical aspects of mental health science. It emerged due to the spheres’ development and the necessity to consider the alterations in people’s moods and behaviors after severe stress and dramatic events. Thus, the world wars, deinstitutionalization, and the emergence of DSM promoted the further evolution of the given field of science, and it’s becoming more effective in helping patients recover and feel better. Nowadays, behavioral health continues to evolve and acquire new features.
References
Buscemi, D., & Hendrick, S. S. (2018). Relation of behavioral health to quality health care. Baylor University. Medical Center Proceedings, 31(2), 240–243. Web.
Fulone, I., Barreto, J. O. M., Barberato-Filho, S., Bergamaschi, C. C., Silva, M. T., & Lopes, L. C. (2021). Improving care for deinstitutionalized people with mental disorders: Experiences of the use of knowledge translation tools. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. Web.
Gravetter, F., & Forzano, L. (2019). Research methods for the behavioral sciences (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.
History of the DSM. (2022). Social Sciences. Web.
Rzeszutek, M., Lis-Turlejska, M., Krajewska, A., Zawadzka, A., Lewandowski, M., & Szumial, S. (2020). Long-term psychological consequences of World War II trauma among Polish survivors: A mixed-methods study on the role of social acknowledgment. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. Web.
Stein, D. J., Palk, A. C., & Kendler, K. S. (2021). What is a mental disorder? An exemplar-focused approach. Psychological Medicine, 51(6), 894–901. Web.