Knowing where we work: The value of psychiatric unit histories

Whilst the histories of some individual psychiatric services have been well documented, there has been relatively little discussion of why services should systematically examine and preserve their own institutional histories. Drawing on examples such as the Tavistock Clinic, this Editorial argues that understanding a unit’s history can help services better understand their culture, development, and current challenges. This argument is illustrated through a case study of the Child and Family Unit (now known as Haumaru Ōrite) at Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. The Editorial concludes by outlining practical approaches to documenting and preserving institutional history.