Auroraadvocate.com - Kaleidoscope: 'Moral treatment' was Athens asylum concept
this news story presents some history of mental health treatment in 19th and 20th century America (specifically Ohio). The author enjoys learning about the history of old buildings and that led to this presentation about The Ridges at Ohio University -- once the Athens Lunatic Asylum.
The Thomas Kirkbride plan was based on the "moral treatment" model of psychiatry and advocated for by Dorethea Dix. Patients came to live at the facility's idyllic setting. They joined in the operation of the campus's self-sustaining farm-like methods.
[side note: the wikipedia article on Ms Dix is out-of-date. It mentions that the hospital in Raleigh NC named for the advocate is "scheduled to close in 2010". That event has now happened. Dorethea Dix Hospital was replaced by Central Region Hospital in Butner NC.]
I found the article a nice quick introduction to the history of mental health reforms in the US, as well as an interesting look at the why's and how's of some old buildings. Too often both these topics are neglected in this world of auto-refresh. Very refreshing distraction....
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