History of Mental Health by Mind
Article from MIND better mental health
Histort of mental health
factsheets: You are welcome to print and photocopy this page of Mind's website. Organisations are free to distribute copies to service users and colleagues, but must ensure they always use the latest version, as available on the website, at the time of distribution.
1601 The Poor Law was introduced and clearly defined the responsibility of every parish to support those who were incapable of looking after themselves. This responsibility was limited to people born or defined as being 'settled' in a parish. Other people who did not fit these categories could be expelled from the parish.
1808 The County Asylums Act 1808 gave permissive powers to the Justices of each county to build asylums, paid for by local rates, to replace the few psychiatric annexes to voluntary general hospitals. However, this development was very slow.
1834 The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 required relief to be provided within institutions only. This led to the construction of a huge network of workhouses.
1845 The Lunacy Act 1845 required counties to provide asylums. The majority of Britain's psychiatric hospitals were built during the next 25 years. The growth of asylums was fuelled by funding arrangements that encouraged local parishes to move the parish poor into asylums, as these were funded by the county councils rather than the parishes.
1860s The workhouses were obliged to build 'infirmary' annexes - the first general hospitals (to be set up as a legal requirement).
1863 The Mental After-Care Association (MACA, later renamed Together) was established: a voluntary organisation providing short-stay residential homes for discharged psychiatric patients in the Greater London area.
1875 The Government began to pay a subsidy to Poor Law authorities of up to 25 per cent of the cost of supporting 'pauper lunatics' in asylums. This was the first central government financing of any health or social care
Histort of mental health
factsheets: You are welcome to print and photocopy this page of Mind's website. Organisations are free to distribute copies to service users and colleagues, but must ensure they always use the latest version, as available on the website, at the time of distribution.
1601 The Poor Law was introduced and clearly defined the responsibility of every parish to support those who were incapable of looking after themselves. This responsibility was limited to people born or defined as being 'settled' in a parish. Other people who did not fit these categories could be expelled from the parish.
1808 The County Asylums Act 1808 gave permissive powers to the Justices of each county to build asylums, paid for by local rates, to replace the few psychiatric annexes to voluntary general hospitals. However, this development was very slow.
1834 The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 required relief to be provided within institutions only. This led to the construction of a huge network of workhouses.
1845 The Lunacy Act 1845 required counties to provide asylums. The majority of Britain's psychiatric hospitals were built during the next 25 years. The growth of asylums was fuelled by funding arrangements that encouraged local parishes to move the parish poor into asylums, as these were funded by the county councils rather than the parishes.
1860s The workhouses were obliged to build 'infirmary' annexes - the first general hospitals (to be set up as a legal requirement).
1863 The Mental After-Care Association (MACA, later renamed Together) was established: a voluntary organisation providing short-stay residential homes for discharged psychiatric patients in the Greater London area.
1875 The Government began to pay a subsidy to Poor Law authorities of up to 25 per cent of the cost of supporting 'pauper lunatics' in asylums. This was the first central government financing of any health or social care