The National Library of Medicine’s traveling exhibit, “Care and Custody: Past Responses to Mental Health,” is on display now through March 21 on the first floor of the Medical Center Library.
The exhibit explores the treatment of people with mental health conditions throughout history, especially in the United States, bringing to light the tension that has long existed between care and custody. As physicians, advocates, families, and government agencies have all contributed to the shaping of mental health policies, the country has moved away from custodial forms of treatment and toward more inclusive approaches that better protect the rights of people with mental health conditions.
On Thursday, February 26, the campus community is invited to attended a free opening reception celebrating the exhibit. Susan Griffith, Associate Hospital Administrator for Eastern State Hospital, will speak on the history of the Eastern Kentucky Lunatic Asylum, the second oldest psychiatric hospital in the United States. RSVP here.
To dig even deeper into the history of mental health treatment, stop by the Lucille C. Little Fine Arts & Design Library for a display on Artists, Mental Health, and Institutions featuring books about artists' experiences with mental health institutions drawn from library collections.
For guidance on conducting research in psychology and the behavioral sciences, sign up for the MCL's PsychINFO Essentials Research Workshop on Thursday, March 12. The workshop will introduce key features of the database and outline effective search strategies.
