Running Head: DOROTHEA DIX
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Dorothea Dix
DOROTHEA DIX
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In the nineteenth century, there was very minimal to no understanding of what mental
illness was. Mental facilities did not treat the mentally ill as normal patients. Mentally ill patients
were starved, chained, physically and sexually abused, and more. In some cases, private
individuals were paid to care for the mentally ill or to keep them under control. As a result,
mentally ill people were locked in basements or confined in prison. There were no proper
treatments or institutions for mental health. Dorothea Dix, an educator and social reformer,
changed this welfare of the mentally ill. Her devotion led to widespread international reforms.
These reforms included the betterment of mental health institutions, improvement of the living
conditions of the mentally ill, and restoring the dignity of those who suffered from mental illness.
Dorothea Dix was born in 1802 to alcoholic and abusive parents. At the age of 12, she
moved to Boston to live with her wealthy grandmother. At a young age of 14, Dix opened an
elementary school. After being a schoolteacher for three years, she closed the school due to her
health and stayed at her grandmother’s home. In 1841, she volunteered to teach classes at the
Cambridge Jail where most inmates were mentally ill. During her visits, she immediately noticed
the horrible conditions and inhumane treatments of these prisoners. Thus, she became determined
to improve care for the mentally ill.
As Dorothea continued to stay in Massachusetts where her grandmother lived, her
investigations of the conditions and treatments of the mentally ill carried on. In 1843, she submitted
a memorial to the Massachusetts legislature for support for the improvement of the care of the
mentally ill. This was approved in Massachusetts, and she continued to travel around the country
to raise awareness about mental illness in other states as well. Her plan was to have the states
expand mental health facilities and provide better treatment for the patients. In 1854, she wanted
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a national bill so she lobbied Congress for better treatment of mental illness, and by 1857 reform
laws were finally passed.
Dorothea expanded her investigation in England and Europe where she met Pope Pius IX.
The pope listened to her concerns and decided to see the asylums himself and was indeed shocked
at the horrible conditions. He then ordered construction of new hospitals of the mentally ill. In the
final phases of her career, Dorothea volunteered for the Union Nursing Corps during the Civil
War. After the war, she spent her remaining years continuing to lobby for her causes on behalf of
the mentally ill before retiring at the age of 82. Dorothea Dix died on July 17, 1887, and she
remains to have a great impact on the mental health community today.
In summary, thanks to Dorothea Dix’s passions and accomplishments, mental health
facilities have improved tremendously and the mentally ill are getting the proper treatment they
deserve. Dorothea was a teacher and reformer who changed many people’s perceptions on mental
illness. Now, there are continuous improvements in the treatment and care of the mentally ill as
well as the conditions of mental health facilities. Dorothea Dix will always be recognized as a
pioneer for her achievements in improving the medical care and perceptions on mental health and
mentally ill people.
References
Caldwell, B. A. (2016). Dorothea Lynde Dix: Privilege, Passion, and Reform. Nursing's greatest
DOROTHEA DIX
leaders: A history of activism, 175-192.
Farmer, T., & Strickler, J., (2019). Dorothea Dix. Nursing, 49(1), 49-51.
doi:10.1097/01.nurse.0000549724.14939.d8
Sagar, R., Sarkar, S., & Modark, T. (2016). Dorothea dix: A proponent of humane treatment of
mentally ill. Journal of Mental Health and Human Behaviour, 21(1), 69.
doi:10.4103/0971-8990.182088
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