FAQ: The History of Asylum for Mental Illness

Do you want to learn a little bit of the history of Asylum? You're in the right place as in this post we show to you an overview of it.

Perhaps, you are one of those who think that people with mental illness should be isolated. You believe that they are dangerous and they should have a suitable place. Well, that is where asylum began to emerge.

However, over time it earned a reputation that was quite morally questionable. In fact, a few times asylum carried a bad rap. The patients didn't receive much of the acceptance from the society. But time has evolved that people begin to understand the condition of these people suffering from brain diseases deserve treatment and cure. 

So get a decent view about asylum historically by looking into the list shown below. It is a set of questions and answers for your quicker understanding.

Q: What is an asylum in the context of mental illness?

A: An asylum in the context of mental illness is a residential institution that was initially built to house people suffering from mental illnesses. It was used as a place to confine, treat, and care for the mentally ill, but over time many of these institutions became notorious for their poor living conditions, inhumane treatments, and neglect of patients.

 

Q: What is the history of asylums in treating mental illnesses?

A: Asylums for people with mental illnesses have a long history dating back to at least the Middle Ages, although the approach to care was more custodial than therapeutic. 

 

In the late 18th and early 19th century, asylums began to adopt a more humanitarian approach towards mental illness under the guidance of pioneers like Philippe Pinel and Dorothea Dix. They believed mental illness was a medical condition and should be treated with kindness and care. However, by the late 19th century, asylums had become overcrowded and conditions had deteriorated, leading to inhumane treatment. The mid-20th century saw a move away from institutional care towards community-based care and medication.

 

Q: Who was Dorothea Dix and what role did she play in the asylum history?

A: Dorothea Dix was an American activist in the 19th century who was a staunch advocate for better, more compassionate care for people with mental illnesses. She campaigned vigorously for reforms in the treatment of people with mental illnesses and was instrumental in the creation of the first mental asylums in the United States that provided decent conditions and proper medical care for the patients.

Q: When was the first mental asylum established?

A: The first mental asylum, as per recorded history, was established in 792 AD in Baghdad. In the Western world, Bethlem Royal Hospital in London, founded in 1247, is considered the first dedicated institution for the mentally ill.

Q: What was the purpose of mental asylums?

A: Initially, mental asylums were created as safe places to house individuals with mental illness. The aim was to provide patients with treatment and care, to rehabilitate them back into society. However, with the advent of the asylum era in the 19th century, these institutions became more of a place to confine those deemed 'mad' or 'insane', keeping them away from society.

Q: What was the condition of early mental asylums?

A: Many early mental asylums, particularly those in the 18th and 19th centuries, were notoriously bad. Patients were often confined in horrific conditions, subjected to cruel and unusual treatments, and experienced gross neglect. These practices reflected a lack of understanding of mental illness at the time and the prevailing stigma attached to it.

Q: What were some treatments used in asylums?

A: In the 18th and 19th centuries, treatment methods ranged from hydrotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and insulin shock therapy to more brutal forms like physical restraints, lobotomies, and in some instances, even physical and psychological abuse. The choice of treatment often depended on the prevailing theories about mental illness and the facilities available in the institution.

Q: When did asylums start to close?

A: The closure of mental asylums began around the mid-20th century, particularly after World War II. This was driven by multiple factors such as advancements in psychiatric medications, realization of the poor living conditions and treatments in asylums, changes in societal attitudes towards mental illness, and an increasing preference for community-based treatment and care. 

Q: What replaced mental asylums?

A: Deinstitutionalization, the process of replacing long-stay psychiatric hospitals with less segregated community mental health services, became widespread in the mid to late 20th century. Psychiatric treatments started focusing more on outpatient care, community-based support services, psychopharmacological treatment, new laws promoting patient rights, and integration of mental health care with general healthcare services. 

Q: How did the asylum era impact the perception and treatment of mental health?

A: The asylum era had a profound impact on the perception and treatment of mental health. While it initially reinforced negative stereotypes and stigma towards mental illness, the closure of asylums and the shift towards community-based care heralded a change in perspective. It helped increase awareness of the importance of mental health and paved the way for more humane, compassionate, and patient-centric approaches to mental health care.

 

 

Insights:

It hurts to know that the patients during asylum era suffered more from the malpractices than their own diseases. Not only they were isolated, their families felt ashamed of them too. It's like they were the living-dead people with nobody else to go to.