How about stepping back in time to 1912? The Massachusetts Mental Health Center first opened its doors as the Boston Psychopathic Hospital. It stood at 74 Fenwood Road.
Its creation was a partnership. The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and Harvard University joined forces. They aimed to care for the severely afflicted. Many were new immigrants. They lacked family or financial support.
Elmer Ernest Southard oversaw construction. He was appointed director in 1910. The Psychiatric Hospital formally opened June 24, 1912. It started as a department of Boston State Hospital.
The Massachusetts State Psychiatric Institute separated in 1919. It relieved the psychopathic department of scientific research. This left it with only hospital duties.
December 1, 1920, brought another change. The psychopathic department became its own entity. It was named Boston Psychopathic Hospital. C. Macfie Campbell became director. The name changed in the late 1960s. It became the Massachusetts Mental Health Center.
The original main building and power plant date back to 1912. Later additions included a therapeutic wing in 1954. A research building followed in 1957. An iron picket fence surrounded the entire property.
The Massachusetts Mental Health Center was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It represented one of the nation’s oldest psychiatric hospitals.
Partners HealthCare acquired the historic campus at 74 Fenwood Road in 2009. The building was demolished the next year. But the Massachusetts Mental Health Center continues its mission. It now operates in modern facilities at 75 Fenwood Road.
The Massachusetts Mental Health Center played a crucial role. It became a leading center for mental health training. Many trainees became leaders in the field. They became department chairpersons and directors of the National Institute of Mental Health. Some even became presidents of professional societies.
In November 2011, two new Massachusetts Mental Health Center buildings opened. One provides a partial hospitalization program. It also offers a transitional shelter program for homeless men and women with mental illness. The other is the main building. It provides outpatient treatment, research, and training programs.
The Massachusetts Mental Health Center’s renewed vision is clear. It seeks to unite public sector psychiatry with university-based teaching. It also focuses on translational neuroscience research. The goal is evidence-based and early interventions for serious mental illness. The Massachusetts Mental Health Center maintains a humane approach to care. It always emphasizes compassion.