A Word on Words

            Within the boundaries of the course and our blog, we use old-fashioned terms like “lunatic” and “asylum.” In the context of the history of mental illness, those terms are appropriate and part of the historic record.  Outside of these boundaries, we promote an enlightened view of mental illness. We use history to guide us forward, because, as George Santayana warned, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."  Outside of these boundaries, we follow the American Psychological Association’s standards for reducing bias and prefer language like “a person diagnosed with depression” and “a mental health center.”