Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry (also known as Somdet Chao Phraya Hospital and formerly as The Mental Hospital) is a psychiatric hospital located in the Thonburi area 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. 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, 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 Rong Phayaban Khon Sia Sati or simply Mental Hospital. It was changed to Rong Phayaban Rok Jit Thon Buri (Thon Buri Psychosis Hospital). 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 in honor of the family who donated most of the hotel property.
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.
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.
The hospital was upgraded to the status of a division following a Royal Decree in 1974 to restructure the Department of Medical Services.
At present, Somdet Chao Phraya Institute of Psychiatry is home to trees more than a century old. 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.