One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

History of Mental Institutions

In the past it was believed that mental illness was caused by evil spirits. Therefore the “cure” involved driving out these spirits.

“Cures” Trepanation Drilling holes in the skull to let demons out.

Exorcism Religious ceremony performed to cast out evil spirits possessing you.

Bloodletting Draining the blood to get the evil out (which was contained in your bodily fluids).

Beatings, floggings, and other cruel methods of torture were used to drive out evil or bring the person “back to their senses.”

1800s “Treatment” was still little to none. People were locked away from the rest of society. Done for the protection of society not the well being of the patients.

Asylums Prisons where people were chained to the walls and neglected.

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Bedlam Famous mental institution in London that was known for its chaos & disorder

1900s Although conditions began to improve, the belief that patients were undesirable and dangerous persisted. Asylums were replaced by the “modern” psychiatric hospital.

Warehousing The policy of rounding up the mentally ill and simply storing them away from society and leaving them in institutions for the rest of their lives

“Advancements” in Treatment Lobotomy The removal of the frontal lobe (part of the brain responsible for emotions) to calm patients. It worked but often made them “vegetables” in the process.

ECT Shock therapy Works by sending electric shocks into the nervous system and the brain. Causes seizures in the brain as well as muscle spasms (still used today though more humanely).

Psychiatric Medication First began being used in the 1950s. In the late 1980s Prozac was introduced. The number of people on psychiatric medications skyrocketed and continues to increase today.

The End of Institutions Deinstitutionalization The emptying of mental hospitals Began in the 1970s Government no longer wanted to spend money to keep them open Many had nowhere to go

Today jails have become society’s primary mental institutions Approximately 1 in 5 prisoners has a mental illness. There are more mentally ill living in prison than in psychiatric hospitals. Many more are living on the streets.