An account of the conditions of Faroese individuals with a mental illness from the early 1800s to the late 1960s

This paper provides a historic narrative of conditions for Faroese individuals with a mental illness from the early 1800s to 1969. The year 1969 was a landmark, as the Faroe Islands, an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, finally established its own psychiatric ward led by a psychiatrist in collaboration with nurses and other healthcare providers. The narrative presents accounts of life in the Faroe Islands, as well as transportation to and life in asylums abroad. It is contextualised within international conventions on human rights and discussed through the lenses of ethical, nursing and mental healthcare theories. The conclusion emphasises the importance of recognising the unique history of mental health care in the Faroe Island underscoring the continued need to respect the human rights of individuals suffering from mental illnesses.