Exploring the deeper recesses of the human mind

Psychology student OWEN ROBINSON reports on an enlightening  tour of the capital

PSYCHOLOGY students explored the deeper recesses of the human mind during an enlightening tour which touched on some of the darker sides of London’s history.

At the Bethlem Hospital Museum of the Mind - once known as the Bedlam asylum, infamous for the brutal ill treatment meted out to its patients – we explored how attitudes to diagnosing and treating mental disorders have evolved over the last two centuries.

After this we embarked on a guided tour based on the grisly murder spree of Jack the Ripper, the unidentified serial killer who was active in the impoverished Whitechapel district of the city in the mid-19th century.

Our exploration of the mind continued with a visit to the final home of the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, who came here with his family in 1938 as a refugee from Nazi persecution.

His former London residence, which houses his famous psychoanalytic couch and his personal library, is now a museum dedicated to his work and the legacy of his daughter Anna, pioneering child psychoanalyst, who also lived there.

Our afternoon spent in Camden Market offered not only a chance to go shopping but an opportunity observe human behaviour in a real-world setting, followed by a visit to the National Portrait Gallery.

After dinner, we gathered at the Wyndham’s Theatre to see the powerful rock musical about mental health, Next to Normal.

This incredibly beautiful and moving piece of drama shared a new perspective on the life–changing reality of experiencing and living around others with mental illnesses, as well as dealing with grief.

On our last day, we split into two groups to tour the Supreme Court and the Francis Crick Institute exhibition, Hello Brain!, which explores the most complex and least understood part of the body and the journey to map its intricate connections.

Our routes took us past many iconic sights, like Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and Big Ben, before we reconvened at King’s Cross to take the train back to Harrogate, drawing the three days of travelling and memorable activities and practical work to a close.