The Dialogues on Mental Health Records project is a platform to address the challenges of managing historical public mental health records through a series of nationwide convenings. These convenings will bring together people across regions, disciplines, and life experiences, including archivists, historians, genealogists, ex-patients, and hospital administrators. Participants will discuss what historical public mental health records should be preserved, how they can be shared, who should have access, and many other questions.
A series of virtual meetings will be scheduled to take place over 2025, culminating in an in-person symposium in Austin, Texas in late 2026.
Participants will discuss what types of historical public mental health records should be preserved, how they should be shared, who should have access, and many other questions. Currently, there is no space to have these complex and sensitive discussions, and there are no frameworks for managing historical public mental health records that practitioners could directly reference.
The outcome of the Dialogues on Mental Health Records Project will be a community of practice and a comprehensive publication designed to facilitate ongoing dialogue among key stakeholders across the nation.
Register for the virtual meetings. Click the date to register.
- Researchers, historians, genealogists, and descendants on Wednesday, June 18th, 1-2:30 PM CT
- Hospital administrators, psychiatrists, peer support workers, and others associated professionally with the hospital industry on Thursday, July 10th, 1-2:30 PM CT
Can’t make one of these meetings, but still want to join the conversation? Fill out this form to stay informed on upcoming events!
