Former Patients

Decisions about who can access mental health records, when, and how have long been made by agency officials and policymakers, without consideration for the people those records describe. Many states restrict all access to historical mental health records, even to the patient’s descendants due to concerns about mental health stigma and past hospital practices. These decisions are based on assumptions without consultation with former patients or families.

We want to hear from you! In these meetings, former patients will have the opportunity to use their voice on who, when, and how mental health records should be managed, preserved, and shared. These perspectives are important in helping determine how the story of state hospitals should be shared with the public.

Learn how to get involved using this survey.

Hospital Administrators

Older institutions often have rooms, closets, or off-site storage filled with aging paper records. Hospital administrators are responsible for maintaining these public records but often do not have clear guidance on how to manage them or the appropriate support and funding. The information in these records is highly valuable, but only if it is indexed and described. Without proper management their value becomes a burden. Securing control of an institution’s records also means control over the institution’s history. Knowing an institution’s history can prepare it for negative publicity, be used to demonstrate progress and modern-day achievement, and open the opportunity to uncover inspiring and beautiful stories. Sharing the history in a manner that is respectful to the patients, workers, and families can help counter the “haunted asylum” stigma associated with public mental health institutions. It can also serve as a mechanism for community outreach by giving hospitals the opportunity to form relationships with families and descendants of former patients.

Let us know what you think using this survey.

Descendants

Join us to:

• Share your stories of seeking information, including successes and frustrations, and why you want to learn more about your ancestors
• Meet others seeking information about hospitalized ancestors
• Learn about 1.) federal and state privacy laws, 2.) records management policy and practices, and 3.) archival policies and practices that guide what happens to patient records
• Break silos and talk with other stakeholders of mental health records like archivists, historians, hospital administrators, and former patients

Let us know what you think using this survey.