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"As soon as the patient passes the internment wall, he enters a new dimension of emotional emptiness ([...])" — Franco Basaglia (Italian psychiatrist, 1924-1980).

It seems strange to me to write that, but mental illness has been with me all my life. I grew up in Haar, a Munich suburb. A tranquil and beautiful place yet one that accommodates one of the largest psychiatric institutions in Germany. A beautiful area with old Art Nouveau buildings but also with a cruel dark past, because in World War II euthanasia was practiced here.

Having this in mind, my curiosity for the background of psychiatric institutions was awakened. When I visited one of these former institutions in Italy for the first time in 2013 and learned more about the sometimes cruel conditions, I realized that I wanted to photograph these places.

More info: andyschwetz.de | flickr.com | Instagram

#1

Dr. Rosetti

Dr. Rosetti

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Jrog
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the former psychiatric Hospital in Racconigi, Piedmont. It was a very advanced hospital for its times, with lot of efforts to keep the scientific and operational aspect up to date and cutting edge. The building itself is much older -it has been an hospital since the late 1700s, and later a military boarding school- but the mental health insitution that was run inside its walls was everything but "old-style". Since the 1870s new therapies were tested and tried all the times, including some of the very first electrical treatments, and modern techniques such as radiology, neurosurgery and ergotherapy (helping the inmates to heal through work, a method that is still considered very effective) Of course the place was not dilapidated as in those photos. It has been abandoned since the early 1980s, without any upkeep and at the mercy of squatters and thieves. In my opinion it would be awesome to have it renovated and used as a museum for history of psychiatric care.

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#2

Hells Eden

Hells Eden

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Brenda Swann
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mother Nature has a way of hiding sins from the past. Careful if the serenity you see

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There are many stains on the white straitjacket in the history of psychiatry. Italy and its Manicomio was, unfortunately, a prime example here in the last century.

The law of 1904 allowed the police forces to obtain an urgent request for a briefing. So there were not only the mentally ill but also "unwanted" people such as the homeless, petty criminals, etc. who were instructed and denounced without a diagnosis. The church also had the power to determine who was mentally ill. The physicians and the respective other parties were in this under the same blanket, so the doctors often confirmed a disease even though there was no illness.

#3

One More Light

One More Light

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Later, at a time when fascism prevailed in Italy, political opponents, disabled persons, and other groups of people who did not fit into the regime's model of society were barred to prison on the pretext of "social danger." So it went from 1926 to 1941, and the number grew from 62,000 to almost 100,000 inmates. Often, people were incapacitated and simply locked up until their death.

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The living conditions in the asylums were mostly unworthy of human beings and the treatment methods were questionable and cruel: insulin treatments, restraint systems, and especially the later introduced electroshock therapy had devastating effects. The worst-off inmates experienced nothing but the lack of care and the robbery of human identity.

#5

A New Dawn

A New Dawn

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Jane W.
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would have spent all the time I was there at that window.

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Here is an excerpt from the medical file of Vicenzo M. who was admitted at the age of 17 and who was "held" for the following 27 years in the same ward:

"10.5.47: Electric shock

10.7.47: Feverishly occupied tongue

10.11.47: Nothing new

12.4.48: Always apathetic, stupid, deprived of all initiative. He expresses no wishes; smiles blandly, eats voluntarily, does not seem to hallucinate.

10.11.61: (After 13 years) severe mental confusion, apathetic, inactive, indifferent.

Quiet in 1964, not aggressive, idle

Unchanged in 1967

1970: Unresponsive, dirty, apathetic indifferent. " [Source]

The boy was only in the asylum for being a case of a "madman". Previously, he was a normal schoolboy.

#7

The Last Walk

The Last Walk

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The end of this dark period came only 74 years later. when Legge 180, or otherwise known as the Basaglia Law, was issued on May 13, 1978. The Manicomi in their old form were closed. Franco Basaglia took over the management of the Psychiatric Clinic of Gorizia in 1961, having resigned as a psychiatry professor at the University of Padua since the theories taught there were wrong and had nothing to do with the condition of the persons in psychiatric hospitals. He was the first in the world to claim that one had to close and regulate psychiatric institutions because captivity, fixation, electroshock, and psychotropic drugs had no therapeutic value.

#10

Bad Treatment

Bad Treatment

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Brenda Swann
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I. Can’t help but wonder what photos will be shown of the year 2020 as images or examples of how bad things were ‘then’. Makes one think in broader terms.

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Today, many of these old, partly architecturally exciting buildings have been empty for many decades. They are memorials of ignorance and intolerance and they are monuments to thousands of terrible fates of innocent, sick and simply unfortunate people. Accordingly, I also felt an intense melancholy and oppressive mood when I visited these places. High, monastery-like corridors, high-security tracts, and dormitories that were often designed for 100 people or more.

Also, some of the legacies left there gave me goosebumps. Bathtubs that had electricity, old surgical chairs, children's chairs with ankle cuffs, straitjackets and old morgue tables.

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#11

Going Nowhere

Going Nowhere

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Today, the old Manicomios disappear increasingly. Some were partially renovated or demolished because of the extreme danger of collapse. The vandalism has also increased in many of these places, helping it to become history.

Although our society has still not quite accepted that mental illness is a normal disease, it is shocking to see the dominant preconceptions until the mid-1970s. In any case, in comparison with conventional medicine, it was a scientific and moral Stone Age.

#14

The Holes

The Holes

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sloth cat
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it makes you think doesn't it how far we've come and yet All we hear is how terrible we all are and her in less than 100 years we've come so extremely particularly in psychology mental health was seen to be insanity but we still have very far to go.weve come so far a species so far we realising that we did wrong so we're trying to fix our mistake everybody keeps going in about how bad we are all yes we are but please do not forget that human beings are a amazing generous intelligent species . sorry about this being so long. and for any inconvenience caused thank you

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Over the years, many photographs have been accumulated and I possibly have the opportunity to publish a book about it because the topic offers interesting content and so many facets. But for now, you can visit my website where I published also the first report about one of the asylums.

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Over the years, many photographs have been accumulated and I possibly have the opportunity to publish a book about it because the topic offers interesting content and so many facets.

But for now, you can visit my website where I published also the first report about one of the asylums.

#18

The Way Into The Uncertain

The Way Into The Uncertain

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#19

Help Less

Help Less

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Nadia Bakker
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The green is such a contrast to the rest of the scenery, in a good way. It's nice to see that at some point, in the far future, nature will reclaim this sad place and turn it into a garden.

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#21

Clockwork Orange

Clockwork Orange

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Jrog
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was an auditorium. The hospital had a large medical community, some of whom working on research. These kind of rooms still exist in most hospitals, where there is the need to share the findings of studies or to provide training to other people. Often these rooms double as spaces for cultural events or for staff meetings.

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#24

Invastigation

Invastigation

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Catlady6000
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it's a long term facility, gynecological exams would still be a necessity for some. For some, leaving to go to a dr.s office might be unnecessarily traumatic, if it could be taken care of on premises, better for the patient

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#30

Lonely End

Lonely End

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Note: this post originally had 36 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.