Nellie Bly:
Breaking Mental Health Barriers

                       (Norwood, ​​​​​​​National Women's History Museum)

Before the 1900s not much was known about the treatment of mentally ill patients. In 1887, Nellie Bly, an investigative reporter, single-handedly unveiled the horrors which took place behind the walls of mental institutions across New York. Along with that, her work as a female investigative journalist broke gender barriers throughout the field of journalism. Because of Bly's exposé​​​​​​​, the conditions at Blackwell's Asylum greatly improved. Today, we as a society continue to improve the treatment of mental health patients.