14 June 2019 – 28 February 2020
Free entry
11 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JQ
The story of mental health…
from witchcraft and home remedies to straitjackets and ECT
The illustrations, books and objects displayed in this exhibition show the changing understanding of mental health over the last 500 years.
This is not simply a history of psychiatry, although that is an important part of this story. It also includes mental health experiences which date from long before the profession of psychiatry existed and uncovers the self-help remedies of those who never came into contact with medical professionals.
Additionally it considers the role of physicians, including Fellows and Members of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, in the support for and treatment of these conditions.
This exhibition encourages us to examine our own ideas around mental health and aims to show how, even now, many older stereotypes and ideas about these conditions remain unchanged.
ONLINE EXHIBITIONS
500 YEARS OF MENTAL HEALTH
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ASYLUM PATIENTS IN ART
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RECORDED TALKS
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SOCIAL MEDIA
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PERSONAL STORIES
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IN THE PRESS
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BLOG POSTS
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EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS
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Sketches and letters by patients
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Magneto-Electric Machine |
Illustrations of asylum patients |
We thank the historians, archivists and librarians who have assisted us in developing this exhibition:
Allan Beveridge
Grania Diver
Emma Filshie
Catriona Leonard
Isla Macfarlane
Suzanne Shouesmith
Helen Whittle
We thank those who participated in interviews or loaned objects:
Lothian Health Services Archive
John Crichton
Fiona Garwood
Rebecca Lawrence
Conor Maguire
Graham Morgan
Exhibition and digital design by Studio SP and Version 33
Contacts
@RCPEHeritage #Moonstruck
To find out more about the exhibition please email us at library@rcpe.ac.uk
For press releases, images or other press-related information please email us at policy@rcpe.ac.uk