Helen Boyle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dr Helen Boyle
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Dr Helen Boyle in 1915
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| Born |
Alice Helen Anne Boyle
1869 |
| Died | 1957 (aged 87–88) Pyecombe, West Sussex, England
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| Alma mater | London School of Medicine for Women |
| Occupation | psychiatrist general practitioner |
| Known for | First woman president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists |
| Honours | Order of St. Sava Queen Elisabeth Medal |
Dr. Alice Helen Anne Boyle (born in 1869, died in November 1957) was an important doctor from Ireland and Britain. She was a general practitioner (GP) in Brighton, which means she was the first female family doctor there. She also became the first female president of the Royal Medico-Psychological Association, which is now called the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Helen Boyle cared deeply about helping women who were struggling with their mental health, especially those who were poor. She worked hard to make sure they received proper care and treatment.
Early Life and Education
Helen Boyle was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1869. She studied in France and Germany before moving to England in 1887. From 1890 to 1893, she studied at the London School of Medicine for Women. This school was led by Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, a famous female doctor.
In 1893, Helen passed a special Scottish exam. This allowed her to become a licensed doctor. She earned her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree in Brussels in 1894.
Career Highlights
From 1894 to 1897, Dr. Boyle worked at Claybury Hospital. Here, she focused on brain and nerve problems. She also worked at the Canning Town Mission Hospital in London. She was surprised by how much emotional stress patients faced there. She was the first psychiatrist to notice a specific illness affecting some mental health patients. Later, she became the head doctor at Canning Town Mission Hospital. Her experiences with women struggling with mental health and poverty inspired her. She wanted to create a better place for them.
In 1897, she moved to Hove, East Sussex. There, she and Mabel Jones opened the Lewes Road Dispensary for Women and Children. This was a doctor's office in Roundhill Crescent. This made Dr. Boyle the first female family doctor in Brighton and Hove.
Mabel Jones mostly managed the Lewes Road Dispensary. This allowed Dr. Boyle to move to Brighton to start another hospital. In 1905, Dr. Boyle opened the Lady Chichester Hospital in Brighton. This hospital was for women dealing with mental diseases. It offered care that was free or low-cost. It was also mostly run by women. This hospital was special because it was the first place created to treat early mental health problems. The hospital later moved to Hove. It was founded to help women avoid being sent to large, old-fashioned asylums. It was the only place in Brighton that offered inpatient care, meaning patients could stay overnight.
Dr. Boyle worked at this hospital for fifty years. She was a key part of its growth and changes. In 1910, she was the only woman to speak at a big discussion about anxiety and depression. During the First World War (1914-1918), she worked in Serbia. She helped with the Royal Free Hospital Unit. After the war, she received two awards: the Queen Elisabeth Medal and the Order of St. Sava.
Dr. Boyle joined the Royal Medico-Psychological Association in 1898. This group is now known as the Royal College of Psychiatrists. After many years of being an active member, Dr. Boyle became its first female president. In 1955, the association held a meeting in Brighton. This was to celebrate 50 years of the Lady Chichester Hospital. She also helped create other important groups. These included the Guardianship Society (1913) and the Medical Women's Federation (1917). She also helped start the International Medical Women's Federation (1922) and the National Association for Mental Health (now called Mind).
Legacy and Recognition
In 1929, Dr. Boyle moved to Pyecombe, West Sussex. She passed away there in November 1957, one day after her 88th birthday. She was a true pioneer in mental health care for women.
In 2015, a special blue plaque was put up for her at Aldrington House. A Brighton & Hove bus has also been named in her honor.
Awards and Honours
- Queen Elisabeth Medal
- Order of St. Sava
