Final answer:
Dorothea Dix was the leader in mental health care reforms in the United States, advocating for better treatment and establishing thirty-two state mental hospitals.option b is correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who led the reform efforts for mental health care in the United States was Dorothea Dix. Her groundbreaking work began when she discovered poor conditions at a Cambridge jail in 1841 where mentally ill inmates were housed. Horrified by the inhumane treatment and living conditions of these individuals, Dix set forth on a mission to transform the mental health care system. She advocated tirelessly for better treatment and facilities for the mentally ill, leading to a significant social reform movement.
Dorothea Dix conducted extensive research and investigations into how the mentally ill were treated in jails and almshouses, presenting her findings to the Massachusetts legislature in 1843. She described inhumane conditions where mentally ill individuals were kept in "cages, closets, cellars, and pens," suffering from abuse and neglect. Her advocacy was crucial in bringing about a societal shift that led to the establishment of thirty-two state mental hospitals across the United States and abroad, a testament to her dedication to improving the mental health care system.
In the context of the provided options for the question, the correct answer is b. Dorothea Dix, as she was the pioneer who spearheaded the 19th-century mental health reform movement in America.