Mental health care in the past

[cadmium]

During my research I have discovered a history of mental illness, as well as ancestors and relatives who went into the nursing professions. I remember getting a lot of good information from some members here and was wondering if people could direct me somewhere for more information.

I believe a relative might have had problems in the 40s and 50s and suspect they might have been what is now called sectioned. They had a history of extremely strange and impulsive decisions, paranoia, depression, etc but had periods where they are normal and very creative. I suspect it would nowadays be considered manic depression.

What was mental health care like in the early to mid 20th century in Scotland? Are there any good books or websites that can give me more information on how patients were treated, how their conditions were understood at that time and what kind of impact on life it would have had? And who might have had the authority to do it? (contact with all family was cut off after the unspoken-about bad experience that I suspect was some kind of sectioning or hospital stay).

Many thanks if you can help!

[StewL]

Hi cadmium
You could google mental health act UK
This may give you the information you need. There have been amendments to the acts since pre 1940's as act change over time.

[Russell]

Hi Cadmium

I started my nursing profession in 1959 in Scotland and it was, or could be, quite a daunting, depressing occupation to enter. Much of the old Lunacy Act was still in force and we had lunatics, imbeciles, morons in the wards although some of those with learning disability(as we know it now) had been moved into separate hospitals. Unfortunately they were not much better than the Asylums. My first introduction to the job ws being issued with a key which would open any door on the male side of the hospital. There was a completely different pass key for the female side ! Medication was very limited although new, more specific drugs were being developed. Many of the patients had been in residence for many years and all too many had no contact with family.
Schizophrenia was only just being treated with Chlorpromazine - much too late for many of the sufferers. Manic-depression had no specific medication other than to sedate episodes of elation. Depression was treated with electro-convulsive sessions. This approach horrifies many today but shock treatment certainly helped many sufferers regain a better life balance. It even resulted in some being discharged the hospital
In 1959 (1960 in Scotland) the new Mental Health Act came into force and all the hospital doors were thrown open and keys withdrawn. Only the wards for the most acutely disturbed were kept locked for their, and societies safety. Families could no longer insist that their family member be sectioned and locked up. The process of applying a Section was strictly supervised, recorded and clearly stated durations introduced. Fears the public had that the patients would flood out of the gates and disrupt society proved totally unfounded - indeed many patients were reluctant to leave their wards since that was their life, family and security so we had to work hard to help them enjoy their new freedoms.
There were, and continue to be, subtle differences between Scottish and English Mental Health Legislation some because of different legal systems, but broadly similar.
What has been lost is the amount of support the patient can get now that most are 'cared for' in the community. At least while they were in hospital we could negotiate and coerce to ensure that essential medication was actually taken. Without adequate supervision many patients will decide they no longer need their pills and stop taking them allowing the condition to recur.
I can go on and on so I'd better stop.
Hope this helps. If you want more info PM me rather than clogging the board with my opinions and outpourings.

Russell

[Currie]

Hello Cadmium,

In House of Commons Parliamentary Papers there’s a 132 page document: “1945-46 [Cmd. 6834] Department of Health for Scotland. Report of the Committee on the Scottish Lunacy and Mental Deficiency Laws.”

The Parliamentary Papers site may be available to you via your local library.

I haven’t read it myself. If you think it may be of any use, I could send you a copy via email. It’s a 17mb pdf and may have to be broken into several parts.

All the best,
Alan

[Parsley]

http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index. ... ne_history

You could have a look at that site for some general information - there's a section about halfway down about the history of institutions. The section of the site is about Lennox Castle Hospital specifically, but does contain more general historical info.

P

[StewL]

Hello Parsley

I hope you enjoy your visit to the site, the members are very helpful and friendly.

[Parsley]

Thank you!

P