
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


What did people in medieval England really understand about mental health?
In this episode, I’m joined by Michèle Schindler, author of Mental Health in Late Mediaeval England, to explore a subject that is often misunderstood—and oversimplified. From the famous collapse of Henry VI to lesser-known noble case studies, we move chapter by chapter through her research to uncover how mental illness was recorded, interpreted, and treated in the late Middle Ages.
Were those suffering seen as “mad”… or simply unwell?
Did medieval society respond with cruelty—or with compassion?
And how did religion, law, and community shape the experience of mental illness?
We also dive into the difficult topic of suicide, challenging long-held assumptions about how strictly Church doctrine was applied in practice.
This conversation may change the way you think about the medieval mind—and the people who lived within it.
--
Michèle's books through Pen & Sword
Michèle's books through Amberley
Michèle's books on Amazon US
--
Want to support the show, please head over to Patreon to see what benefits you get by being a patron! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty
--
Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Michèle Schindler
By RedTop Media / Rebecca Larson4.5
716716 ratings
What did people in medieval England really understand about mental health?
In this episode, I’m joined by Michèle Schindler, author of Mental Health in Late Mediaeval England, to explore a subject that is often misunderstood—and oversimplified. From the famous collapse of Henry VI to lesser-known noble case studies, we move chapter by chapter through her research to uncover how mental illness was recorded, interpreted, and treated in the late Middle Ages.
Were those suffering seen as “mad”… or simply unwell?
Did medieval society respond with cruelty—or with compassion?
And how did religion, law, and community shape the experience of mental illness?
We also dive into the difficult topic of suicide, challenging long-held assumptions about how strictly Church doctrine was applied in practice.
This conversation may change the way you think about the medieval mind—and the people who lived within it.
--
Michèle's books through Pen & Sword
Michèle's books through Amberley
Michèle's books on Amazon US
--
Want to support the show, please head over to Patreon to see what benefits you get by being a patron! https://patreon.com/tudorsdynasty
--
Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Michèle Schindler

3,196 Listeners

4,791 Listeners

228 Listeners

1,413 Listeners

748 Listeners

470 Listeners

171 Listeners

3,358 Listeners

1,920 Listeners

2,060 Listeners

1,395 Listeners

513 Listeners

293 Listeners

91 Listeners

1,144 Listeners