Then and Now: Psychiatric Hospitals
A psychiatric hospital is a hospital or ward that specializes in treating many different mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and many other serious disorders. Mental illness is often stigmatized in societies across the world. Treatments are changing everyday as medications and therapy become more readily available. The condition of mental hospitals and wards are changing drastically. Psychiatric hospitals of the 1950’s and 60’s and those of today can be compared by the following: the condition of the hospitals and patients, the stigma and reputation of the patients, and the treatments practiced.
Firstly, mental hospitals in the 1950’s were much different from those …show more content…
In some religions, schizophrenia is seen as demonic possession. Mental hospitals and the patients treated there are seen in a negative light, considered crazy; mental illness is an abstract idea to some people rather than the real illness that these disorders are. This has led to horror movie villains and comic book villains to take on mentally ill traits. This is seen in American Psycho; where Norman Bates was given many symptoms of multiple personality disorder. Another example is The Joker. These villains often have tragic backstories and are seen in a negative light. Stereotypes of mentally ill people are that they are unstable, aggressive, dangerous, and they can’t control themselves. Though, this is just a stereotype and not true, it is very common in media and television. In the 1950’s people were discriminated against and judged for having been in a mental hospital. Today, people are more knowledgeable about mental disorders and all around mental health. It can be difficult to understand something that one has not experienced themselves. Similarly, this was very inherent in the 1950’s and today as well. Ignorance and misunderstanding can lead to
A psychiatric hospital is a hospital or ward that specializes in treating many different mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and many other serious disorders. Mental illness is often stigmatized in societies across the world. Treatments are changing everyday as medications and therapy become more readily available. The condition of mental hospitals and wards are changing drastically. Psychiatric hospitals of the 1950’s and 60’s and those of today can be compared by the following: the condition of the hospitals and patients, the stigma and reputation of the patients, and the treatments practiced.
Firstly, mental hospitals in the 1950’s were much different from those …show more content…
In some religions, schizophrenia is seen as demonic possession. Mental hospitals and the patients treated there are seen in a negative light, considered crazy; mental illness is an abstract idea to some people rather than the real illness that these disorders are. This has led to horror movie villains and comic book villains to take on mentally ill traits. This is seen in American Psycho; where Norman Bates was given many symptoms of multiple personality disorder. Another example is The Joker. These villains often have tragic backstories and are seen in a negative light. Stereotypes of mentally ill people are that they are unstable, aggressive, dangerous, and they can’t control themselves. Though, this is just a stereotype and not true, it is very common in media and television. In the 1950’s people were discriminated against and judged for having been in a mental hospital. Today, people are more knowledgeable about mental disorders and all around mental health. It can be difficult to understand something that one has not experienced themselves. Similarly, this was very inherent in the 1950’s and today as well. Ignorance and misunderstanding can lead to