title: Insight into Bedlam: one hospital's history.
abstract: Mental health services are in a state of flux. We struggle with the most basic concepts-can we distinguish between the need for "health" as opposed to "social" care? Mental distress is instantly recognizable, but less clear is what causes such distress or how we should respond to it. We have become so involved with current challenges that we assume that these are new-that we are living in a world beyond the end of psychiatric history. This article focuses on the Bethlem Hospital, 750 years old this year. An overview may help us to appreciate that our contemporary problems are the result of history and that the concept of care is a vital part of that. Nurses are trying to improve the response to the special needs of mothers with a mental illness. Such developments are the latest in a history of innovation and change. We too are part of that process and hopefully, our efforts will be seen as a meaningful contribution to the care of those with mental illness.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: McMillan
mesh_terms: D004739:England; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000266:history*; D006801:Humans; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000266:history*; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000266:history*