Alcohol, Benzodiazepines, and Chlorpromazine: The ABCs of the History of Psychopharmacology

Alcohol, Benzodiazepines, and Chlorpromazine: The ABCs of the History of Psychopharmacology

The story of mental health treatment in North America is a fascinating one. In many ways, the field of psychiatry has had a harder time advancing at the same pace as other medical fields due to the absence of obvious, external markers of disease. In fact, even today, we struggle to define and identify psychiatric illnesses and develop reliable, safe, and effective methods to treat them.

Read More
Heritage Hour: Rockwood and Early Mental Health Treatment in Canada

Heritage Hour: Rockwood and Early Mental Health Treatment in Canada

On Thursday, December 7th, 2023 the Museum of Health Care's Curator, Rowena McGowan delivered a talk for the City of Kingston's Heritage Hour. The topic was the evolution of mental health care in Canada with a focus on Rockwood Asylum.

Read More
Rockwood Asylum featured in new exhibit at the Museum of Health Care

Rockwood Asylum featured in new exhibit at the Museum of Health Care

The Museum of Health Care at Kingston has installed a new temporary exhibit, with Rockwood as the first subject.Colloquially known as Rockwood, the city’s first psychiatric hospital has had many names over the years. With artifacts, panels, and even supplementary media links, this small exhibit provides a short overview of the hospital’s history from its beginning all the way to closure.

Read More