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1247
Bethlem Royal Hospital (Bedlam) is founded
Bethlem Royal Hospital became the first to specialize in psychiatric care in Europe. Patients were treated poorly and abused during their stay. Patients were often displayed to the public for a price as entertainment. -
Period: 1400 to
Religious treatments
Religious organizations also believed those with mental illness were plagued with the devil and deserved death. Many of these people suffered being burned at the stake, leaving over 10,000 mentally ill dead. -
Reform begins
French physician, Philippe Pinel argued that patients should be treated humanely. His movement called for patients to be treated kindly and socialized to treat their ailments. -
Moral treatment emerges
Introduced by English Quaker, it promised a cure for mentally ill patients. Wards were built in a quiet, secluded, peaceful country. Patients received socialization with others and often worked manual labor activities. -
Reform efforts increased
Dorthea Dix began leading reform efforts for the treatment of the mentally ill. She traveled from place to place demanding patients be treated better and psych wards have government funding. This resulted in the first U.S. psych ward being built, but it remained dirty and often held people for decades. -
Institutions under siege
Institutions around the world began to fail economically. Local governments send the elderly to these institutions, overcrowding them and raising prices. -
Land is donated
William Pryor Letchworth donated 2,000 acres of land to build a facility for the "feeble-minded and epileptics." Here patients were encouraged to learn the village life and farming techniques. -
Another economic crisis
World War Two created another economic crisis for institutions around the world. These wards experienced a huge staff shortage, as many decided to move to general medical practices. -
Bizarre treatments began
Many treatments began to emerge within Willard Psychiatric Center. Patients were often submerged in cold baths for long periods. While others were introduced to electroshock therapy, resulting in broken backs and no results. -
Medications are introduced
During this time, medications for psychiatric illnesses began to emerge. Institutions began to medicate their patients to control symptoms. -
New Act Passed
Congress passed the "Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Center Constructions Act." This act provided institutions with federal support and funding to continue the treatment of the mentally ill. -
Today's Institutions
Today's institutions have come a long way since 1247. Many treatment centers are kept sterile and provide patients with beneficial treatments rather than cruelty. Although we have several medications and strategies to cure mental illness, some institutions are corrupt and patients receive poor treatment. We as a society still have a long way to go to properly help those with mental illness.