An Oral History of the Cassel Hospital

The renowned Cassel Hospital, in Ham, South-West London, reached its Centenary in 2021. To commemorate this milestone event the Cassel Hospital Charitable Trust has produced a fascinating oral history documentary film.

“Hospital in the Mind” reveals one of the world’s first therapeutic communities through the oral histories of its former staff and patients. The Cassel provides a “life-affirming” combination of individual psychoanalysis and psychosocial practice. No other in-patient service of this kind is currently funded in the UK by the NHS. 

Our documentary features the voices of four generations of people who lived and worked in the Cassel. We experience Jennifer Johns playing in the garden as her father, Tom Main, the Cassel’s (former) medical director, transforms a bombed-out hotel opposite Ham Common, Richmond, into an NHS Hospital in 1948. Lydia Tischler, the first child psychotherapist at the Cassel, describes the environment in which traumatised families could support each other.

The hospital continues to treat patients on a residential, voluntary, basis for a period of 9 months, followed by three years’ as an outreach patient.

Please be aware that past patients and past staff speak openly and bravely about suicide and self-harm, as well as hope and new life.   

You can view the three minute trailer of this fascinating film here or by clicking the video image elsewhere on this page.

Why not organise a screening?

If you would like to organise a screening and round table discussion in your organisation/hospital/academic institution to debate, discuss and learn from the themes and insights provided by this thought-provoking and moving 90 minute film, please email us via our contact form.

We would be happy to arrange this and would kindly request that you consider making a donation towards the Cassel so that we can continue to provide 100 more years of support for people with a diagnosis of personality disorder and complex trauma.

For more information on The Cassel Hospital Charitable Trust, or make a donation.

About the film

• Commissioned by the Cassel Hospital Charitable Trust
• Director –  Rob Lemkin, award winning Director, Old Street Films
• Producer and co-writer/editor – Laura Mitchison, On the Record
• Principal Executive Producer – Maureen Miller, Chair, Cassel Hospital Charitable Trust