“The Nation’s Mental Health” dates to 1951. This film was created by Time Inc. and shown in theaters from 1935 to 1951. It explores mental health care in post-WWII America, emphasizing the effects of the 1946 National Mental Health Act, the evolution in psychiatric treatments and mental health institutions, and the shifting attitudes toward mental illness.

Film opens with New York street life, 20th Century Fox logo, RCA Recording, and title (00:10). U.S. Army Building, 39 Whitehall Street, New York (00:38). Men submit paperwork for evaluation to enter the Armed Forces (00:45): “Accepted” stamping (01:00), “Not qualified for the Armed Forces” stamping (01:05). State mental hospital (01:55): men sit or stand by windows (02:03), patient lying in bed (02:08), patient with hands tied to belt, hitting his chest (02:16), women in rocking chairs (02:20), patient playing with her hair, hitting wall, and sitting in fetal position (02:22). Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC, U.S. Capitol in b/g (02:36). U.S. Capitol (02:40). Image of National Mental Health Act of 1946, signed by President Truman (02:43). Construction of Building 10 on Bethesda campus of National Institutes of Health (NIH) (02:49). NIH sign listing institutes, including National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), established in 1949 (02:56). NIH Building 1, first NIMH location before moving to Building 10 (03:00). Interior, people around table (03:04). Dr. Robert H. Felix, NIMH’s first director, discusses expanding mental health knowledge and services (03:07). Views of Topeka, Kansas, and Menninger Clinic, which Psychiatry School was founded in 1946 (03:44). Menninger’s teaching staff around table (03:58). Dr. William C. Menninger, psychiatrist known for “milieu therapy”, General Secretary of Menninger Foundation (04:07) and his brother Dr. Karl A. Menninger, psychiatrist, foundation trustee, and education director (04:16). Winter Veterans Administration Hospital in Topeka, for veteran care and mental health training (04:28). Interior, psychiatric nurses and aides interact with patients (04:34). Doctor teaches patient care guidelines to hospital staff (04:47). Psychiatric aide and patients working on puzzle, patient wipes puzzle off table (05:06). Class on hypertrophic cervical pachymeningitis (05:23). Doctor performs physical examination (05:46). Trainees observe doctor with patient in pattern recreation test (06:07) and doctor interviewing patient about early life (06:39). Trainings on electric shock therapy (07:44) and administration of insulin (08:00). Brain surgery (08:18). Doctor administers sodium amytal (08:34). Psychoanalysis session with patient on sofa (08:57). Patient in behavioral interview with doctor (09:18). Group drama therapy: three patients act out scenario (10:09) and analyze performance with doctor (10:44). Manual activities for patients (11:08). Hospital’s radio station with patients in studio and control room, doctors observing (11:25). Art room, teacher explains patient’s evolution through self-portrait sculptures (11:59).

Library, man consults psychology book (12:40). Shawnee Guidance Center, a community mental health clinic (12:58). Psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, and social worker Ms. Mars discuss 15-year-old Martha Warren’s case (13:06). Ms. Mars talks with Martha’s father (13:23) and mother (13:53). Martha with psychologist showing test images (14:12), and with psychiatrist discussing family issues (14:28). Warren’s living room scene with Martha, mother and brother (15:27). Team discussion and diagnosis (16:05), shared with parents by Ms. Mars (16:16). Warren’s kitchen, Martha and brothers doing dishes (16:29).

National Association for Mental Health building, predecessor to Mental Health America, New York (16:45): man reads pamphlet beside pamphlet table, poster of “Blondie goes to work for mental health”, special issue of comic strip “Blondie” by cartoonist Chick Young (16:52). Map of U.S. mental health societies network (17:09). Meeting with Mr. Aurin L Root, head of the association and mental health advocate, and Dr. George S Stevenson, medical director (17:13).

Bedroom scene with doctor examining patient (17:56). People exiting church (18:02). School, classroom with students (18:13). Father and sons work on airplane model (18:25). Mother and daughters put icing on cake in kitchen (18:39). End (18:53).

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com