Tucked away inside Bethlem Royal Hospital (the world’s oldest mental health institution), is a gorgeous art-deco museum that tells the uncomfortable but important story of how mental health treatment has developed over the years. The Bethlem Museum of the Mind has carefully and sensitively recorded the experiences of people suffering with mental health problems – shining a light on the history of mental health, and working hard to remove the stigma that continues to surround it.
Wandering through the museum is an undeniably emotional experience. There are remnants of padded walls, weighted hospital gowns, and physical restraints. The museum poses important ethical questions about modern day medicine, sectioning and mental healthcare. And the museum’s historical and archival material help illustrate the history of Bethlem Hospital (the original ‘Bedlam’).
The Museum of the Mind also features a large collection of artwork, created by past and present psychiatric ward patients, giving visitors a fascinating insight into their minds. Next to the museum is a gallery that’s currently holding an exhibition devoted to the work of Boris Johnson’s mum, Charlotte Johnson-Wahl, who spent time in a mental health institution in the 1970s.
The museum holds various history walks and perspective tours throughout the year, and continues to record the experiences of people with mental health problems and celebrate their achievements. It’s an extremely moving museum, and a definite hidden gem of our city.
Credit: @bethlem_museum via IG
📍 You’ll find Bethlem Museum of the Mind at Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, BR3 3BX.
Find out more about the work they do, and plan your visit here.