The Bethlehem Royal Hospital (sometimes called Bedlam) attracted many tourists and even held frequent parades of inmates. Enlightenment attitudes encouraged more sensitivity towards the mentally ill, rather than treating them as outcasts and fools. Some started to believe that being mentally ill was, in fact, an illness of the mind, much like a physical disease or sickness, and that these mental illnesses were also treatable.
The Bethlehem Royal Hospital (sometimes called Bedlam) attracted many tourists and even held parades featuring its inmates. Enlightenment ideals fostered greater compassion for those with mental health issues, shifting away from viewing them as outcasts and fools. Some began to see mental illness as a medical condition, comparable to physical illnesses, and believed it could be treated.