Feature Care in the Community Though often constrained by limited medical knowledge, 18th-century communities offered practical and emotional support to those experiencing mental distress. Ella Sbaraini | Published in History Today Volume 73 Issue 1 January 2023 The Virtuous Comforted by Sympathy & Attention, by Edward Penny, 1774. Courtesy Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection. To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive. Buy Online Access Buy Print & Archive Subscription If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.