Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health

06/01/2026

Did you know that saying nice things to others and yourself can actively boost your mental health? Kindness can lower stress hormones and release "feel-good" chemicals in the brain which alleviate anxiety and depression.

05/30/2026

Dr. Dean Brooks was the Superintendent of Oregon State Hospital from 1955-1982. He worked to bring a humanitarian focus to institutional care of those with mental illness, which was not common at the time. One of the ways he brought this about was by bringing the patients themselves onto a board with staff in order to review the hospital from the perspective of patients. They looked at aspects of dehumanization and found ways for improvement.

While in charge, the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was shot at the hospital. He was cast as the ward doctor, Dr. John Spivey.
Fun fact: All of the “patients” that worked on the film worked in a variety departments (props, lighting, wardrobe etc) that created the film. The company hired 90 patients, paid a decent wage. The doctors in the film were actual psychiatrists working at the Hospital, the Mental Health department, and OHSU Medical School.
There were some patients and staff who played patients and staff as background parts on the grounds. That group had fun because the patients were dressed as doctors/nurses and the staff were dressed as patients.

Following his retirement in 1982, Dr. Brooks continued serving the mental health community by taking a place on the board of the Snohomish County Community Health, serving on the Compass Health Board and chairing the Western Washington State Hospital Board. He also was the chair of the Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care Dorothea Dix Think Tank (focusing on decriminalizing mental illness), served on the Board of Dual Diagnosis in America and was on the Advisory Board of Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.

Dr. Brooks passed on May 30, 2013.

Pictured below from left to right:
Dr. Brooks at the opening of the Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health

Dr. Brooks on set during filming of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Dr. Brooks with his close friend, Louise Fletcher, at the opening of the Museum of Mental Health. Dr. Brooks and Ms. Fletcher discovered they had the same birthday in 1975 (7/22) and spoke on the phone every year through 2012! Ms. Fletcher was able to come for the opening of the museum in 2012.

05/29/2026

Learn more about mental health with these amazing resources!

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
https://www.samhsa.gov/

National Alliance on Mental Illness
https://www.nami.org/

Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us

National Institute of Mental Health
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health

988 Lifeline Su***de & Crisis Lifeline (if you are facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns or just need someone to talk to, counselors are available 24/7/365)
https://988lifeline.org/

05/26/2026

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

Ever heard of a grounding exercise? These techniques are designed to anchor you in the present moment and reduce stress from anxiety and panic by shifting focus to the physical world.

Check out a few examples of grounding techniques from the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance and try them out yourself if you are ever feeling overwhelmed or stressed!

https://www.dbsalliance.org/support/young-adults/ten-grounding-strategies-to-help-you-redirect-your-thoughts/

05/21/2026

Thank you for your feedback on a recent post of ours regarding language. We appreciate learning how words affect people differently. While person-first language is important to some, identity-first language is important to others and asking a person's preference before assuming is always best. Learning and growing together has a big impact on our community.

Thank you for engaging with us and bringing this important issue to light.

05/20/2026

Mental health conditions can affect anyone. All demographics of people are subject to mental health conditions which is why it is important to treat everyone with compassion, understanding and offer low barrier access to care.

Let's bust some mental health myths with UNICEF! https://www.unicef.org/parenting/health/busted-7-myths-about-mental-health

05/19/2026

Sleep, stress, exercise, nutrition and existing health conditions all affect how we feel mentally. The reverse is true as well, people with mental health conditions are often predisposed to physical ailments.

So what can you do? Get a good night's sleep, keep positive relationships and check in with those you care about, exercise, eat healthy and reach out if you think something might be not quite right. Asking for help is a good thing.

Feel like you might need help? Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to chat. They are free and open 24/7/365. Or call 911 if you are in an emergency situation.

05/18/2026

Person first language places an individual before their disability, mental health condition, medical condition or circumstance. It promotes dignity and removes stigma by emphasizing humanity.

For example, instead of saying "the disabled", you would say "people with disabilities". Instead of saying "autistic person", you would say "person with autism".

The goal is to avoid identifying a person solely by one thing because, to paraphrase Walt Whitman, we all "contain multitudes".

For more information on person first language, check out this article from the National Institutes of Health: https://www.nih.gov/nih-style-guide/person-first-destigmatizing-language