The 19th century was characterised by a growing
reform movement which led to major statutory changes. The
therapeutic energy and optimism of the reform movement was,
however, eventually defeated by the excessive confinement of people
who might be mildly socially deviant rather than insane.
In this module, the second in a two-part
series reviewing major concepts of madness throughout history,
we describe:
- the key Acts affecting how and where the
insane were confined
- the events leading up to these
Acts and their overall impact on management of the insane
- significant Acts of the late 19th century,
which acknowledged the undesirability of the large public asylums
and their change of purpose from places of care to places of
containment.
Finally, we review the major changes in mental
health act legislation during the early part of the 20th century,
which were precipitated by the First World War.
Start the
module
Image source: Wellcome Library, London