The woman shown here being held by a nurse was an inmate of the Auckland Lunatic Asylum in 1910. She was admitted for three months suffering from ‘puerperal insanity’ (now known as post-partum psychosis). Women were committed to mental health asylums at a rate of about three to every four men committed, and for different reasons. Difficulties in personal relationships, problems related to childbirth or menopause, or behaviour that was considered unfeminine were common reasons. Married and widowed women were more likely to be admitted than single women. Men were more likely to be admitted because of alcoholism; single and widowed men were most likely to be admitted. Once in an asylum, women were more likely to be cured and released, so were less likely to die there.