The mental-hygiene movement shifted the view of the mentally ill from irrecoverably sick individuals to individuals in need of help and focused on?

• A. Long-term hospitalization only
• B. Early intervention, prevention, and humane treatment
• C. Pharmacological cures alone
• D. Public shaming

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is how the mental hygiene movement reframed mental illness as a health issue that can be improved with timely, compassionate care. It shifted focus away from viewing individuals as irrecoverably sick toward preventing problems, catching them early, and providing humane treatment. That makes the option describing early intervention, prevention, and humane treatment the best fit, because it captures the movement’s emphasis on stopping problems before they grow, supporting people early, and treating them with dignity rather than isolating or punishing them.

Long-term hospitalization alone misses the preventive and humane aspects. Pharmacological cures alone ignore the broader approaches the movement advocated, including prevention and humane care. Public shaming contradicts the movement’s aim to treat people with respect and reduce stigma.