Mental health treatment in the United States has a long and complex history, with a variety of treatments being used over many years. In the 19th and 20th Centuries, treatment consisted largely of locking patients away to strip them of their liberties. It was due to limited knowledge, a lack of available resources, and tension among physicians, advocates, and government agencies. Today, mental health treatment is more accessible and effective than ever, but, it’s important to learn from the history of the field and appreciate how far we’ve come as a nation, and how far we have to go. To facilitate this learning, the Aurora Public Library District (APLD) is host to a banner exhibit entitled Care & Custody: Past Responses to Mental Health provided by the National Library of Medicine in the Santori Library Atrium through February 24.
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) produced this exhibition and companion website www.nlm.nih.gov/careandcustody. The NLM produces engaging exhibits on other diverse topics such as Dream Anatomy, America’s Women Physicians, and Intoxicating Pleasures & Medical Prescriptions. Care & Custody, a six-banner exhibit and digital gallery, explores the treatment of those with mental health conditions throughout history, which brings to light the tension that has existed between care and custody.
Viewers can learn that Dorothea Dix, a teacher and author, became a strong advocate for asylums. Dix helped found more than 30 asylums around the Country to prevent people deemed insane from being jailed or placed in poorhouses. The exhibit examines this history to understand how the Country has moved away from custodial forms of treatment, toward more inclusive approaches, and worked to protect the rights of those with mental health conditions.
This collection was chosen for display at the Library because it resonates with the Advancing Through Equity and Restoring Aurora pillars of the Library’s strategic plan. Event & Program coordinator Ali Lanthrum explains: “Care & Custody explores the often-dehumanizing experiences of people who are neurodiverse and/or neurodivergent, the evolution of mental health support, and what a more supportive and inclusive future may look like.” Lanthrum invites everyone to explore this meaningful exhibit, but especially those who seek a deeper understanding of mental health responses and can appreciate this exhibit’s historical context.
Those who wish to view the in-person exhibit at the Santori Library can do so until Friday, Feb. 24. The digital gallery is available any time on the NLM companion website www.nlm.nih.gov/careandcustody. APLD cardholders seeking reputable information on mental health treatment can visit the online resource Medline Plus (available in English and Spanish) on our Databases webpage www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/databases. For more information on Library events, or resources, please give us a call at 630-264-4117.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.