<p>By the late 1950s, over 20,000 individuals in the Republic of Ireland were confined in asylums—a staggering figure equivalent to 1 in every 133 Irish people at the time. This episode delves into how such a situation arose. Were Irish people inherently more susceptible to mental health issues, or was there something else at play?</p><br><p>Centered around a single incident—a murder in Kilkenny in 1890—this episode uncovers how the Great Famine, emigration, and Victorian attitudes toward mental health created a society where anyone deemed to be suffering from mental ill-health was institutionalized.</p><br><p>Originally released as Chapter 8 of my Irish Times bestseller, "A Lethal Legacy: A History of Ireland in 18 Murders," this episode marks the release of the book's paperback edition. I'm thrilled to share the audio of one of my favorite chapters with you. While it focuses on a murder, it offers profound insights into past and present attitudes toward mental health in Ireland.</p><br><p>If you enjoy this episode, you can get your copy of "A Lethal Legacy" at <a href="https://linktr.ee/alethallegacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">linktr.ee/alethallegacy</a>.</p> <p>Become a member at <a target="_blank" rel="payment" href="https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory">https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory</a>.</p> <br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Irish History Podcast

Fin Dwyer

Stigma, Famine & Emigration: A History of Mental Health in Ireland

OCT 16, 202432 MIN
Irish History Podcast

Stigma, Famine & Emigration: A History of Mental Health in Ireland

OCT 16, 202432 MIN

Description

<p>By the late 1950s, over 20,000 individuals in the Republic of Ireland were confined in asylums—a staggering figure equivalent to 1 in every 133 Irish people at the time. This episode delves into how such a situation arose. Were Irish people inherently more susceptible to mental health issues, or was there something else at play?</p><br><p>Centered around a single incident—a murder in Kilkenny in 1890—this episode uncovers how the Great Famine, emigration, and Victorian attitudes toward mental health created a society where anyone deemed to be suffering from mental ill-health was institutionalized.</p><br><p>Originally released as Chapter 8 of my Irish Times bestseller, "A Lethal Legacy: A History of Ireland in 18 Murders," this episode marks the release of the book's paperback edition. I'm thrilled to share the audio of one of my favorite chapters with you. While it focuses on a murder, it offers profound insights into past and present attitudes toward mental health in Ireland.</p><br><p>If you enjoy this episode, you can get your copy of "A Lethal Legacy" at <a href="https://linktr.ee/alethallegacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">linktr.ee/alethallegacy</a>.</p> <p>Become a member at <a target="_blank" rel="payment" href="https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory">https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory</a>.</p> <br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>