Asylum Years: Back to the Future? @FAB_publishing @RandomTTours #asylumyears #mentalhealth #nonfiction #bookreview

I am delighted to share my review today for Asylum Years: Back to the Future? Glimpses of Institutional Life in the 1970s by Robert Hayward and Andrew Heenan. As I work in the care sector it is always interesting when I get a chance to read a book like this as I think it makes me understand more about how things have improved, but also how long it can take for these improvements to be put into place and how things can still be improved.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of the book.

Has the legacy of the asylum era impacted on the thinking that underpins health policy today? Evidence gathered here from a number of people who worked in an asylum 50 years ago suggests that there is considerable inheritance from the institutional times that reinforce current mental health policy and mode of provision. 

This book begins with a historical overview of mental health care and provides a detailed ethnographic account at the end of the 20th century; comparisons from this are examined in the context of present mental health care with a particular focus on underlying thinking which appears to differ less than that of the previous institutional years. Referring to more recent work, including user-led programmes, “mad studies” and emerging policy models, we explore alternatives that could challenge the philosophy or ethos that buttresses thinking about mental health policy and go some way to address the persistent marginalisation and inequalities experienced by people using mental health services.

MY REVIEW

I think there is always some morbid fascination with asylums, at least for me there is. I have read several books going back to the early days of the institutions and this one took me to the 1970s.

This book is made up of contributions from those who have had some sort of connection with an asylum in the UK. These may have come from those who were patients, nurses, students and those who have made a career in this field.

The way patients were treated in the 70s was not respectful, it was with a stigma and stereotypical approach. Those under the care of staff were often ridiculed, abused, spoken down to or treated with contempt. Seen as lesser than those who looked after them. Some of the accounts are horrific, especially given the way students were often left in charge or were in situations that they were not trained or prepared for.

There are mentions of ECT, medication abuse and lack of privacy and funding. Practices were not overseen properly and it seemed as if there were no proper checks, updated policies or procedures, and no interest in looking beyond the person for what may be the underlying cause.

Told by various voices, this book looks into the way these institutes were run and the problems that those who wanted to see improvements found. Not everyone was lacklustre in their care for the residents, but they were few and far between.

This is an interesting look at asylums and the procures during the 70s and beyond, looking at constitutionalism, conveyor belt care and those that became regular visitors or were there for life. Some of the accounts are shocking and while things have improved there is still a need for improvement.

The book is well laid out and documents the history of asylums but does not delve too much as this is actually a huge subject. It is a good book for those who want to learn a bit more and there is a great bibliography at the end which is good for further reading.

An interesting book looking at mental health care and one I would be happy to recommend.

See what others think by following the Blog Tour…

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