Sanity & Insanity: A brief history of mental health and its treatments before the 19th century

About this course

The course traces how mental health conditions and insanity were classified and understood from the 1300s to the nineteenth century. It considers academic and popular interpretations, the law’s handling of mental disability in matters including property and suicide, and the development of private asylums. Teaching combines talks with discussion. Treatments are examined across approaches broadly described as gentle or shock-based, including the role of charlatans, to explore the early development of psychiatry and modern mental health care.

What you'll learn

• Describe historical understandings and treatments of mental illness from the 1300s to the nineteenth century.
• Explain how the law dealt with mental illness and disability, including in relation to property and suicide.
• Identify areas for further reading and research on the history of mental health and its treatments.

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for complete beginners and people curious about the topic, with no particular skills identified as necessary. Learners can expect a combination of talks and discussions, with optional further reading available for those who want to investigate the subject beyond the sessions.

Before you go

• Pen and paper may be used for note-taking.
• Optional further reading and a detailed reading list will be provided.