Dorothea Dix

Dorothea Dix was an American social reformer. She was born in Hampden, Maine, in 1802. She worked to improve the treatment of people with mental illness. Her efforts led to the creation of dozens of mental health hospitals across the United States.

Early Life

Dix had a difficult childhood and left home at a young age. She became a schoolteacher and opened her own school. In 1841, she visited a jail and saw that people with mental illness were being kept in terrible conditions. She decided to fight for change.

Reforming Mental Health Care

Dix traveled across the country visiting jails and poorhouses. She documented the horrible conditions she found. She presented her findings to state governments and Congress. Her work led to the creation of over 30 mental health hospitals in the United States and around the world.

Fun Facts

• Dorothea Dix helped create over 30 mental health hospitals.
• She traveled over 60,000 miles across the country visiting institutions.
• During the Civil War, she served as the Superintendent of Army Nurses.

Did You Know?

Dorothea Dix was so successful in her reform work that she also helped improve mental health care in England, Italy, and Japan.