Timeline of the Perception of mental health
Central State Hospital only opened in 1848, but the history of mental health and mental illness far pre-dates the institution. (2) Understanding how mental illness treatment and public perception has changed over time can begin to open up the conversation for why Central State Hospital needed to be opened, and why the project ended up ultimately failing.
When tracking mental illness throughout history, it is easy to see how the public opinion on mental illness and what should be done with the patients heavily influences their freedoms in society. It is important to understand how the ideology of those in charge of the institutions frames the privilege of those it serves. This ideology is important in the opening and operational period of Central State Hospital, as it is initially opened with good intentions, and fails to meet expectations and proper care standards after the belief system of the provider shifts.