- In this podcast spanning 2 parts, Alison and James are joined by 2 fantastic guests, Dr Len Smith and Dr Tom Harrison: -

• Dr Len Smith had a long career as a psychiatry social worker and is a mental health historian with expertise in the development of private madhouses and asylums
• Dr Tom Harrison is a retired psychiatrist with great expertise on the Northfield Experiments which happened at his former workplace at Hollymoor Hospital in Birmingham.

Throughout the entirety of this podcast, we refer to many terms not used today to describe patients suffering from mental health problems(this includes people with learning disabilities) and the locations they were treated in.

In Part 1 we travel from the 18th to the 20th century and delve into the places and people linked to mental health care in Birmingham. The following intriguing areas are discussed: -

• England's first asylum

• We understand what went on in private madhouses and who in Birmingham was sent there. Duddeston Hall was a private madhouse in the 19th century and was close to what is now central Birmingham.
• We learn more about asylums outside of Birmingham and who was sent to these places.
• We look at the Birmingham Workhouse and its key role in providing mental health care to poverty stricken patients. Dr Thomas Green was tasked with improving mental health care there in the 19th century. He kept extensive records and we discuss how these have given us a fascinating glimpse into the care being offered there in the 1840s.

• We look at the many attempts taken to try and improve mental health care. This led to the establishment of the 1st borough asylum for Birmingham in 1850(led by Dr Thomas Green). We discuss this important hospital and the building that remains there today. Len discussed the care and conditions offered to patients there from his extensive knowledge and first hand experiences.
• After 1850 was there any other locations in Birmingham that treated mentally unwell patients? James and Tom look into this further.