The Dark Legacy of Mental Asylums

Historic mental asylums, notorious for inhumane conditions and brutal treatments, reflected society’s deep misunderstanding of mental illness. From ancient rituals and medieval torture to 19th-century overcrowding and 20th-century abuses like lobotomies, these institutions often caused more harm than healing. Reform and new medications eventually shifted care to communities, but underfunding has left many still vulnerable. The legacy of asylums lingers in public stigma and ongoing mental health crises.

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