The Mental Health Museum holds a unique collection of objects and documentation relating to the historic treatment of mental health. This collection has material dating back to the 1600s, but is largely formed of objects and a paper archive collected from the former West Riding Asylums at Wakefield, Huddersfield, Sheffield and Leeds. The museum is one of only three in England dedicated to exploring the story of mental health and its treatment, and represents the only such collection in the north of England.
Our collection helps to explore themes of control and freedom, working for wellbeing, personal recovery journeys, changes in treatments and services, and our shared lived experiences. We have permanent collections on display in the museum for you to explore and a temporary exhibition programme, outreach displays in changing locations and loans to other museums and galleries.
We are always looking for ways we can create with you. Our collections, displays and learning activities have all been inspired and created by you! We would love to hear what you think of our collection. We have a contemporary collecting policy and we are especially hoping to build up our oral histories archive. Please get in touch with the museum if you would like to get involved.
We are also working to put our catalogue of objects online. Keep an eye out for updates on our social media channels!