Lake Placid Conference

The Lake Placid Conference, initiated in 1875, was a pioneering professional gathering focused on the improvement of mental health treatment. It brought together physicians, psychologists, and educators to discuss advances in diagnosing and caring for mental illness. As one of the earliest forums dedicated to mental health, it helped shape modern psychiatry and fostered collaboration among different disciplines, emphasizing humane and scientific approaches to mental health care. The conference played a crucial role in transitioning mental health treatment from custodial care to more therapeutic, evidence-based practices.