Confined to a lunatic asylum for eleven years: the case of Haaken Bergh

Haaken Bergh spent eleven years as a patient in psychiatric institutions in Norway and Sweden in the early twentieth century. Following his discharge from Dikemark Asylum in 1921, he devoted the rest of his life to seeking redress and campaigning for reform of the mental health service. Bergh published two books, brought legal proceedings against Oslo local authority, petitioned the Norwegian parliament (the Storting) for ex-gratia compensation and held lectures throughout Norway. He attracted considerable public attention during his lifetime but was largely forgotten after his death.

This article is based on Bergh's books Levende begravet (buried alive) (1925) and Jo galere, jo bedre (the crazier, the better) (1928), searches in the National Library of Norway's digital collections, a review of Bergh's medical records from Solna Hospital outside Stockholm and Dikemark Asylum in Norway, and archival material from the Office of the Municipal Finance Director in Oslo relating to Bergh's damages claim.

Bergh was a prominent critic of psychiatry, and his books and lectures reached a wide audience. He ultimately received a token ex-gratia payment from the Storting, but the authorities largely ignored him. His criticism mainly concerned the inadequate safeguards governing involuntary admission, the limited expertise in asylums and the need to revise the Insanity Act of 1848. The solitary nature of his campaign and his polemical style probably contributed to his lack of impact.