TNA podcast: 'Revolting to humanity': histories of mental health

Sarah Hutton, TNA's Modern Domestic Records Specialist, looks at records relating to mental health for the 19th and early 20th century.


"The 19th century ushered in a new way of seeing mental health. For the first time, 'madness' was not a condition understood as an extension of the criminal or poor classes, but as a unique social group in its own right. Central government undertook the beginnings of a structured response to the way in which those suffering from mental health problems were dealt with. By examining the development of this response, it is possible to reveal snapshots of the lives touched by mental illness during this century and the beginning of the century to follow."


One comes away with the impression that there are lots of records relating to the individual at TNA, but extreme difficulty in finding them.


Listen to this short podcast from http://goo.gl/F1EH8