breakout

Tranquility

Dominick Labino

I mentioned in a recent post that I found it ironic and vaguely disturbing that a sign reading “LAUGHTER IS GOOD MEDICINE!!” be placed on a violent ward, right around the corner from a seclusion room where a patient might find themselves for hours, days, or weeks on end.  This is exactly what happened at Mayview State Hospital, however.  This seclusion room was located right around the corner from that sign; it featured a lock and handle on the outside of the door - with nothing corresponding on the inside.  The room was padded with a layer of foam, and featured a large viewing window with wire-reinforced glass.  The facing wall contained a mirrored semi-globe out of reach of patients, so that orderlies could see the patient through the window no matter where they were in the room.  Patients would have to get an orderly’s attention if they needed to use the bathroom, and then would only be allowed to go with escort.  Some patients were thrown in in their clothes; some stripped; some in restraints.  Seclusion was not a nice place to be, and that’s no laughing matter.

More Than Beautiful