Ten Days in A Mad-House: Historical Perspective
In 1773, the first asylum exclusively for individuals experiencing mental illness was established in Williamsburg, Virginia. The asylum was designed to confine those wandering around and terrifying others (Hatfield & Lefly, 1987). This provided a “means to preserve order and maintain control over disruptive elements in society” (Greenly, 1990, p. 25). By 1825, eight asylums […]