American Association For The Abolition Of Involuntary Mental Hospitalization

American Association for the Abolition of Involuntary Mental Hospitalization

The American Association for the Abolition of Involuntary Mental Hospitalization (AAAIMH) was an organization founded in 1970 by Thomas Szasz, George Alexander, and Erving Goffman. The AAAIMH was dedicated to the principle that "no person should be deprived of liberty unless he is found guilty of a criminal offense."

History

The AAAIMH was established in 1970, during a period of growing criticism of psychiatry and mental health institutions. The founders, Szasz, Alexander, and Goffman, were all prominent critics of involuntary mental hospitalization and the medical model of mental illness.

Principles and Activities

The AAAIMH advocated for the abolition of involuntary mental hospitalization, arguing that it was a violation of civil liberties. The organization also opposed the use of the medical model of mental illness, which it saw as a form of social control. The AAAIMH engaged in various activities to promote its views, including publishing, lobbying, and legal action.

Legacy

The AAAIMH was a significant voice in the anti-psychiatry movement and contributed to a shift in attitudes towards mental health treatment and the rights of mental health patients. While the organization was dissolved in 1980, its principles continue to influence debates about mental health policy and practice.

See Also

• Anti-psychiatry
• Civil liberties
• Involuntary commitment
• Thomas Szasz
• Erving Goffman