Today I Learned...The Origins of the Word Bedlam

Bedlam - a scene of uproar and confusion. 

I have heard the word bedlam before and knew a little of its origins, but I did not know that this word actually comes from the name of a real life mental institution; the Bethlem Royal Hospital. Bedlam, a derivation of the name Bethlem, was infamous for the harsh treatment of its patients.

Bethlem Hospital was opened in the 13^th century as a charitable hospital for the poor and needy, but the monks who ran it began accepting patients with mental illnesses instead of those who were physically ill. By the 15^th century, the vast majority of patients were those who were called “lunatics” at that time. Not all patients were those with mental illness but also people with learning disabilities, dementia, and epilepsy (or “falling sickness” as they referred to it then). Sadly, these patients were considered dangerous, as mental illness was not well understood at the time.

Bethlem Hospital, became infamous for its mistreatment of the patients, using punishment under the guise of religious devotion. Some “treatments” commonly used were corporal punishments and isolation, in an effort to force the person to “come to their senses.” The patients were kept in cells, and it is believed, due to some of the inventory records, that they were bound with chains, manacles, locks, and even stocks.

Bethlem Hospital was not only infamous for its treatment of the mentally ill, but also became a part of English culture and even a tourist destination. Bethlem Hospital would allow members of the public to pay a fee, or donation, to enter the hospital and observe what was happening there. It was a popular attraction with an estimated 96,000 visitors a year, many coming as a reminder to be careful to not end up there. Bethlem Hospital was even called a “palace for lunatics” and compared to the opulent Versailles. It was spoken about in many public forums, such as poems and even Shakespearean plays.

Bethlem Hospital became a symbol of London, but it was also the start of private asylums across the city of London. History has shown that, due to the lack of understanding of mental illness, these asylums across the world were often places of great suffering and pain. Thankfully, mental illness has become more understood today. People are more open to discussing it as well as their own mental health. Instead of “insane asylums,” those who feel they are mentally unwell have a plethora of options to get help, including therapists, psychologists, medication, support groups, and many other helpful programs.

Additional reading for more information on Bethlem Hospital as well as the
advancement of mental illness treatments:

• 
  Bedlam: An intimate journey into America’s mental health crisis By: Kenneth Paul Rosenberg
• Mad, Bad, and Sad: A history of women and the mind doctors By: Lisa Appignanesi
• No One Cares About Crazy People: The chaos and heartbreak of mental health in America By: Ron Powers
• Poets on Prozac: Mental illness, treatment, and the creative process By: Richard M. Berlin
• Psychiatry and Racial Liberalism in Harlem, 1936-1968 By: Dennis A Dowl Verfasserln
• The Roots of the Recovery Movement in Psychiatry: Lessons learned By: Larry Davidson
• Views From an Asylum: A retrospective case note analysis of a nineteenth century asylum By: Elvina Chu, JM Van Santen, and Vijay Harbishettar

Please remember that mental health is health and we have resource to help!