William Tuke

William Tuke was an 18th-century English philanthropist and reformer who pioneered humane treatment for mental health patients. Frustrated by the harsh and inhumane conditions in asylums, he founded the York Retreat in 1796, a private hospital that emphasized kindness, respect, and moral care. His approach shifted focus from confinement and punishment to respect, support, and therapy, laying the foundation for modern mental health treatment principles. Tuke's work significantly influenced the development of more compassionate mental health practices and contributed to the reform of asylums in Britain.