Which movement did Dorothea Dix significantly contribute to during the Age of Reform?

Dorothea Dix played a pivotal role in the movement for mental health reform during the Age of Reform in the 19th century. Her extensive advocacy work focused on improving the conditions for individuals with mental illnesses, highlighting the neglect and mistreatment they faced in asylums and prisons. Through her efforts, Dix conducted detailed investigations and wrote reports that drew attention to the horrific conditions in which the mentally ill were kept.

Her activism led to the establishment of better facilities for mental health care and the recognition of mental illness as a medical issue rather than a moral failing. As a result, her contributions were crucial in shifting public perception and policy regarding mental health, leading to significant reforms that increased awareness and improved the lives of many individuals suffering from mental health challenges. This legacy is what firmly places her within the mental health reform movement.