Insane Asylum's in the 19th Century

Insane Asylum's in the 19th Century

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Before Insane Asylum's became a modernized institution, the insane roamed around with everyone else. According to Bob Symonds and his paper on the origins of insane asylums, the insane or mentally unstable were looked after by their families. To help with the burden of taking care of them, these families were often offered financial donations to help them support their families. This was all before the 1845 Lunacy Act was put into place. This act enabled the county's to build asylums to house not only the mentally unstable, but also anyone who was seen as dependent on others to survive (1).

The creation of Asylum's was kind of a controversial topic at first, and still to this day is. This is because by putting the mentally ill in an asylum, they are being segregated from the rest of society. In a paper written by Renato M.E. Sabbatini, he mentions some of the conditions and treatments that residents of these asylum's receive. It is noted that they received little to no custodial care, or social interaction for that matter (2). Around the 1930's asylums also began to implement treatment to those who classified as insane. These treatments included drugs, shock therapy in many forms, and even surgery (2). Some of these approaches were successful, hence we still see the use of drugs to help those with mental illnesses, but some of the approaches were not as successful.

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One group that was specifically targeted during the uprising of insane asylums was women. During this time period women possessed little to no rights, this including rights over themselves as humans. Because of this, women had no say as to whether or not they belonged in asylums. They were able to be placed into these institutions by male figures in their lives such as husbands, fathers, brothers, or even male friends. Some of the reasons for admittance back in the 19th century are as followed, "depression after the death of a loved one, use of abusive language, suppressed menstruation, and overexertion" (3). Quite obviously these reasonings would not be accepted nowadays, but were common reasonings to deem a woman insane back then. 

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Overall, it is easy to notice that the establishment of insane asylums was not beneficial to those placed inside these places. These people were neglected, tortured, and tested on. Along with that, there were no real requirements to being placed into these asylums, so really anyone could be put in them for any reason. With that being said, anyone who tried to test the social norms of society, or spoke out about something that was wrong, they could be silenced by these asylums. Even those with disabilities who relied on their families were sold to these establishments by their families in order for the families to gain relief (1). Many things that happened in these asylums would not be morally accepted in this day and age, and it is sad to think about how many lives were tortured and lost because of these institutions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtgzpAbxcRI

References

1. Bob Symonds, The philosophical and sociological context of mental health care legislation, Journal of Advanced Nursing, 27, 5, (946-954), (2003)

2. Sabbatini, Renato M.E. “Brain and Mind Magazine.” Brain and Mind Magazine, 1997, www.cerebromente.org.br/n04/historia/shock_i.htm.

3. Pouba, Katherine, and Ashley Tianen. Lunacy in the 19th Century: Women’s Admission to Asylums in United States of America , 2006.