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Jane Fradgley’s evocative photographs of historical restraining garments from the Bethlem Royal Hospital Archives & Museum evidence her interest in fabric and utilitarian clothing, an intrinsic remnant of her past career as a fashion designer. Through held this artist offers her unique perspective; a poetic documentation for contemplation with the added intention of contributing to a dialogue and debate around protection, restraint and chemical intervention in mental health care today.

Accompanying the exhibition in the MRC SGDP Centre at the Institute of Psychiatry, this symposium offers a variety of perspectives on restraint in mental healthcare, past and present. Building on a focus group, held at the Bethlem Gallery in 2012, this symposium invites clinicians, historians, artists and service users to debate the topic of what exactly is restraint, and how (and if) we can ever draw a line between care, cure and control. We welcome audience discussion following short presentations.

Participants are:

• Chair: Niall Boyce (Senior Editor at the Lancet)
• Speaker: Dr David O'Flynn (Consultant Psychiatrist in Rehabilitation & Challenging Behaviour, South London & Maudsley NHS and Chair of the Adamson Collection)
• Speaker: Natalie Hammond (Nurse Consultant for Promoting Safe and Therapeutic Services, South London & Maudsley NHS)
• Speaker: Jane Fradgley (artist) and Beth Elliott (Bethlem Gallery Director)
• Speaker: Laura Allison (Locum Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy)
• Speaker: Sarah Chaney (Historian specialising in late nineteenth-century asylum psychiatry)
• Speaker: Professor Sue Bailey (President, Royal College of Psychiatrists)

Doors will open at 5pm, with a reception and chance to view the exhibition.

The symposium will begin at 6pm, ending by 8pm.

Location: MRC SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, SE5 8AF (within the Maudsley Hospital complex).

Nearest station: Denmark Hill

All are welcome, and entry is free.

Part of the 'Damaging the Body' event series (http://damagingthebody.org)