The Willard Suitcases

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:34 pm

In 1995, the Willard Psychiatric Hospital in New York closed down. Workers discovered hundreds of suitcases in the attic. These suitcases were the patients, and looked to be untouched. I stumbled upon this website, and it is interesting reading the stories of the some of the people who were committed to this place.

http://www.suitcaseexhibit.org/indexhasflash.html

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:04 pm

Wow. You've no idea the nerve you've touched with your post, Sheryl. This is my kind of website, albeit in a sad way. I just clicked on Ethel. As I read that her landlady -her *landlady*- committed her because she wouldn't get out of bed, I became angry. How DARE a mere landlady have the right to commit anyone! Ethel spent 43 YEARS in asylum!

Those suitcases and their contents are heartwrenching. To me, they speak of broken lives and hopelessness.

The website asks if psychiatry today is any better than it was then. A resounding hell yes!! It was only a mere 40-50 years ago that people with the most basic of mental disorders were still considered freaks, crazy, lunatics. They were subjected to terrible maltreatments in the name of "curative medicine." Electroshock therapy with little or no anesthesia, insulin shock treatment, ice water baths, straitjackets, confinement in utter hell, what hell was left outside of their minds, that is. I think death (which also was known to come at the hands of asylum staff) would have been a far better justice than to live in these wretched state "hospitals."

Just for a brief insight, look up "ice pick lobotomy" and see the history behind that.

My apology if this isn't the reply you were looking for, but I am both glad you found that website and sorry it exists, if that makes any sense. I used to research bygone asylums and the history of state hospitals and it left a trigger in me that sometimes gets switched on and this is one of those times. I hope everyone who takes their freedom for granted will check out these suitcases and realize that it hasn't been that long since a person could be committed to hell against their will.

Excellent find, Sheryl. I'm going back to read more now....

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:16 pm

I found it intriguing that a couple of the people in the stories given, were given no drugs. They just lived their life in the asylum. I would really love to see the exhibit though.

JacksDad · Post by **JacksDad** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:25 pm

They still use electroshock therapy.

Now it has a "softer, less offensive name."

Electroconvulsive therapy.

:-5

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:26 pm

That is weird. But then they gave that Madeline woman Thorazine which gave her Tardive dyskensia and then they kept her there because she made grimaces and thereby exemplified a bad attitude.

Makes me wonder who the crazies were. I would love to see the exhibit too, but honestly, I think it would be a little more than what I could handle.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:27 pm

JacksDad;753589 wrote: They still use electroshock therapy.

Now it has a "softer, less offensive name."

Electroconvulsive therapy.

:-5

Yeah, isn't that a kick in the pants? They've been trying for at least the past ten years to make it more palatable to the public. Barbarism at its finest.

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:30 pm

have ya'll listened to the recollections. listening to the one now about the typhoid cages. Yea, literally in cages in the air.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:35 pm

God. I just found the recollections. Didn't see them before. I just listened to Nancy say you could stick your fingers in the lobotomy holes, they were that deep. I have to have a happy break but I'll be back. What humans can do to other humans. It's a scary thing indeed.

JacksDad · Post by **JacksDad** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:46 pm

RedGlitter;753594 wrote: What humans can do to other humans. It's a scary thing indeed.

Ironic. No?

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:44 am

Great Post, very interesting.

Unfortunately even today there are unbelievable stories that would absolutely shock you. The attached link is a BBC documentary about child care in Bulagria. This is not 100 years ago, this is today as we live and breath.

Now, Bulgaria is not a backward country, although they are still developing economically they are full members of the EU.

I was so shocked by this I complained to the Bulgaria Embassy as well as contacting my local political counsellor. The issue was raised as a result of the documentary in the Irish Parliament.

This will shock you:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 3325307126