CORFU’S PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL HISTORY
The first movement for the psychopaths’ treatment began in 1836 in Corfu under the authority of Hobart Douglas, when the Ionian Islands were under British Occupation. To cover the costs of the first installation, the sum of 600 pounds was collected by fundraising. However, it was just in 1838, and specifically on 4th July, its function began, published in the first “Asylum Regulation for Mentally Ill People” in the newspaper of the Ionian Islands’ United State on 7-2-1838. The Foundation was housed in a building belonging to the barracks complex and fortifications of the San Rocco suburb and it was used as an Engineer barracks. The Psychiatry’s Directorate was initially assigned to the doctor of the English Corps of Corfu. As the number of foods increased, the Department rented new buildings in the suburbs of Garitsa and Mandouki. In this form it functioned until the union of the Ionian Islands with Greece, that is, until the year 1864, when it came to the Greek Exchequer, which was fully responsible for its maintenance and operation expenses.
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BUILDINGS 1880-1904
In 1880, due to the rapid increase in the number of psychopaths, the former Chief Medical Officer Christos Tsirigotis made an extension effort to build new buildings, which was completed only in 1904.
“CORFU’S PUBLIC PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL” IN 1939
In 1880, due to the rapid increase in the number of psychopaths, the former Director Medical Doctor Christos Tsirigotis attempted to extend the construction of new buildings, which was completed in 1904. By Royal Decree on 11-1-1939 (Government Gazette 22 / A / 1939) the Corfu’s Public Psychiatry Organization established, with a Psychiatric Clinic of up to 650 beds, as well as a projected Radiological and Microbiological Laboratory.
“CORFU’S PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL” IN 1956
In 1956 the organization was reformed and renamed to “Corfu’s Psychiatric Hospital” with the simultaneous composition of two Psychiatric Clinics, while in 1961 a Pathological Clinic was established, too. In April 1959, the function of the Radiological Unit began and also the Microbiological Unit in 1960, which were functioned until the end of the previous decade.
1980s: NEW DIRECTIONS
European Regulation 815 of 1984 gave rise to radical changes in the direction of overcoming asylum. With this Regulation it was decided that financial support should be provided to the Hellenic Republic for construction, layout and equipment of vocational rehabilitation centers, on the one hand, and rehabilitation workshops for people who suffer from mental and mental illnesses and disabilities, with a view to their recruitment subsidy. Funded by Regulation 815/84, a Day Hospital, a Short-Stay Unit and a Centre of Planning and Economic Research (CPER) were established. In 1986, the Psychiatric Clinic was acceded into the Greece’s National Healthcare and the organization was reformed with the result of exact determination of it action fields. Thus, according to the provisions of A3b / c. 19192 / 26.11.86 (OGG 816 B / 86) the Psychiatric Institution was divided into three Psychiatric Clinics with a total strength of 360 beds and also a dental department was established.
THE MENTAL REFORM
In the 1990s, the data within the CPH was constantly changing. The Psychiatric Reform called for the disintegration of all chronic patients in various structures within society, within the community, next to our homes. In 1999, the program “PSYCHARGOS” was launched, in the framework of which the first phase set up and operated two psychiatric clinics in Corfu for 24 patients, two training laboratories for 45 psychiatric patients and VTC of Mental Health. In 2006, after a long process of transformation and in full implementation of “Psychargos”, the Corfu Psychiatric Hospital went down in history giving its place to the “Corfu Mental Health Community Network”. As a result of the long process of Psychiatric Reform, it has become possible for some to imagine, distant and improbable: ‘The permanent abolition of Asylum’. The major goal of the asylum’s final shutdown was achieved on October 10, 2006, a day that is celebrated as World Mental Health Day.
THE ASYLUM
In Europe of 19th-century, mental illness was regarded as the subject of scientific research: psychiatry evolved into a medical science, and the mentally disturbed were considered to be within the doctor’s jurisdiction. But people with these disorders, as well as others with various other illnesses and unwanted social behavior, were isolated from society in large committal institutions, governmental sanatoriums, later called psychiatric institutions.
The term asylum implies the protection of patients with their commitment in the Psychiatric Institution, because their mental disorder gradually made them unable to take care of themselves. However, they were distanced from the community at the same time. Due to existing prejudices about mental disorder and the patients’ social stigma, the patient was undesirable for the “healthy” social group.
The stereotype of the irresponsible, dangerous and incurable psychiatrist prevailed and psychiatric care was characterized by restrictive safety measures. The so-called treatment was essentially only the care and coverage of the patients’ basic living needs. The psychiatric population was constantly increasing because the chances of patients returning to their social environment were very low.
Psychiatric Institutions continue to absorb the effects of social exclusion and they are constantly recycling and expanding their population by producing inveteracy.
The disadvantages of asylum are proved by the frequent mistreatment of patients, the geographical isolation of the institutions, as well as the personnel’s isolation from a scientific point of view, the mismanagement of their financial resources, the lack of training and supervision of the personnel and the insufficient quality controls.
Also the function of the asylum’s model distends the space of professional responsibility (psychologicalization of everyday life), disregards inability and disability due to mental illness, disdains Mental Health professionals and after all creates the “precipitate”, inveteracy, asylum’s misery, which overall maintain the chaos.
