Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry

Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry
สถาบันจิตเวชศาสตร์สมเด็จเจ้าพระยา
Department of Mental Health
Geography
Location 112 Somdetchaopraya Road, Khlong San Subdistrict Khlong San District, Bangkok 10600, Thailand, Thailand
Services
History
Founded 1 November 1889
Links
Website www.somdet.go.th
Lists Hospitals in Thailand

Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry (also known as Somdet Chao Phraya Hospital and formerly as The Mental Hospital) is a psychiatric hospital located in Khlong San District of Bangkok, Thailand. Established as a mental asylum, the original building was designed by a British architect and supervised by the British physician Dr. Morden Carthew.[1] As the first psychiatric hospital and the second oldest hospital in Thailand, the hospital became well known for being the pioneer in the country for providing humane treatment of mentally ill patients.

History

Founded upon the instructions of King Chulalongkorn in 1889, the hospital initially occupied a five-rai plot of land on one side of the Chao Phraya River. A decade later, it transferred to its current location now occupying 44 rai. The institution's original name was the Mental Hospital ('Rong Phayaban Khon Sia Sati'). It was changed to the Thon Buri Psychosis Hospital ('Rong Phayaban Rok Jit Thon Buri').[2] When Phon Sangsingkeo assumed directorship of the Mental Hospital, he changed its name to Somdet Chao Phraya Hospital in 1954 to remove the stigma and prejudice associated with the hospital's former name. The new name was name of Somdetchaopraya Road where the institute located.[3][4]

In 1955, the hospital started to offer training programs in order to increase knowledge and expertise in the field of psychiatry and mental health. Shortly after, the Psychiatric Association of Thailand was founded.[5]

A mental hygiene clinic was opened in Somdet Chao Phraya Hospital following the successful training of a team of experts who studied mental hygiene, child psychiatry, clinical psychology, and psychiatric social work. This was expanded further to provide outpatient mental services. When the Child Mental Health Center was established, the hospital begun to provide outpatient mental services, cut short in 1970 due to shortage of staff.[5]

The hospital was upgraded to the status of a division following a Royal Decree in 1974 to restructure the Department of Medical Services.[5] In 2002, the hospital was renamed as the Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry.

At present, Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry is home to trees more than a century old.[2] Current hospital director Dr. Sinngern Suksompong believes that the greenery helps calm mental patients. For this, management refuses to cut trees for expansion and holds tree-planting activities for important personalities on special occasions.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Scull, Andrew (ed.) (2014). "Cultural Sociology of Mental Illness: An A-to-Z Guide." SAGE Publications
  2. 1 2 3 Supoj Wancharoen (28 June 2014). "Mindful about the importance of being green". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  3. ↑ Balgos, Cecile C.A., ed. (2007). "Phon Sangsingkeo". Great Men and Women of Asia: Ramon Magsaysay Awardees from Southeast Asia 1958-1973. Anvil.
  4. ↑ http://www.somdet.go.th/public/his_som.html
  5. 1 2 3 "Mental Health Thailand". Department of Mental Health of Thailand. Retrieved 1 November 2015.

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