AFTER THE ASYLUMDAVID BEALESCopyright David BealesISB!"#$%$!&"'()' *$% Co+te+ts) Li, a+d the -ia+o Ma+*I+ the Co../+ity0Drea. otes'Cy+thia -ell I+trod/1tio+ Livi+g o+ the 2ro+t li+e o2 psy1hiatry i+ the 1o../+ity I have3it+essedtheso1ial pro4le.sthat o+lyapsy1hiatri1patie+t1o/ld see5 I a. +ot tryi+g to .oralise or 4la.e6 o+ly to reporta11/rately to /+dersta+d 3hat has happe+ed5 Havi+g said thatthere is +othi+g here that is +ot typi1al o2 the 3orld o2 the 1arei+ the 1o../+ity patie+t so hope2/lly 3hat I have 3ritte+ 3illraise a3are+ess 4y dispelli+g ig+ora+1e a+d atte+da+tpre7/di1e5So.e +a.es a+d lo1atio+s have 4ee+ 1ha+ged5

&

Li, a+d the -ia+o Ma+Li, Bro3+ 3as very slight o2 4/ild a+d 1o/ld +ot have 4ee+ &2oot tall5 Her 2a1e rese.4led that o2 F/1hsia 8roa+6 the heroi+eo2 Mervy+ -ea9e:s 8or.a+ghast5 As a tee+ager Li, had 4ee+treated at the -riory Ti1eh/rst Ho/se i+ S/sse;6 i+ theadoles1e+t /+it5 As a+ad/lt6 Li, 3as apatie+t at /iredo+ly4asi1s/pervisio+a+dposed a .i+i.al or +o threat to sa2ety o2 health 3or9ers5 The)!!%:s 1are i+ the 1o../+ity progra..e p/t the e.phasis o+short ter.2i+a+1ial savi+gs5 Everyo+e 9+o3s that the oldhospitals have 1losed do3+ 4/t 2e3 /+dersta+d the disr/ptio+1a/sed 4y the 1los/re o2 the day 2a1ilities6 the day hospitals5/ire i+$patie+t or day patie+t treat.e+tthat stopped3iththe1los/reo2 theoldasyl/.s5 To.a9e.atters 3orse6 to1oi+1ide3iththe1arei+the1o../+ityprogra..e?e+t Co/+tyCo/+1il sa32it to1losethegro/pho.es6 sharedho/sesthat hada11o..odatedthelo+gter..e+tally ill livi+g i+ the 1o../+ity5 As i2 this sit/atio+ 3as+ot 4ad e+o/gh6 the 8iddo+ Hill so1ial servi1e .e+tal healthtea.3ereadvertisi+g2or .oreso1ial 3or9ers a+d4esides4ei+g /+dersta22ed6 3ere a+d still are over3or9ed5 The previo/s o11/pa+t o2 Li,@s 2lat6 Mi1hael6 had 4ee+tra+s2erred to Broad.oor 2ollo3i+g his 1o+vi1tio+ 2or sta44i+ga lo1al 8- i+ *%%%5 This i+1ide+t 3as reported i+ the +atio+alpress6 o+ the 2ro+t page o2 so.e +e3spapers5 At his trial a yearlaterMi1hael 3asreportedtohavesaidthat @theyhad4ee+3i+di+ghi./p:5 I3o+dered i2 the sta229+e3 so.ethi+gaso+e o2 the. had told .e that Mi1hael 3as /pset a4o/t a .o+th4e2ore the i+1ide+t5 Aro/+d that ti.e a+other o2 the -SYCHEho/si+g o22i1ers6 Aliso+ 3e+t dri+9i+g at a p/4 i+ 8aol La+e6the+ drive+ her Citroe+ De/; Cheva/; to the lo1al 3oods a+dh/+g hersel25 A third ho/si+g o22i1er6 8eorgia told .e that she1o/ld +ot 4elieve the attit/de o2 so.e o2 the sta22 at -SYCHEAest4ridge 4e2ore she le2t5 Shortly a2ter Mi1hael 4ee+ se+t toBroad.oor6 =oh+ M6 the+ head o2 -SYCHE Aest4ridge le2t to"starta+other7o45Aest4ridge-SYCHEe.ployedMary63hohad o+ly 3or9ed 3ith the .e+tally ill 2or a year5 -rior to thata+d2or te+years previo/s shehad3or9ed3ith1ri.i+als5-revio/sly she had r/+ a pro4atio+ hostel5 The 1hara1terattri4/tes o2 a pro4atio+hostel .a+ager are di22ere+t 2ro.those+eeded4y the .a+agero2 a lo1al4ra+1ho2 -SYCHE5Those respo+si4le 2or e.ployi+g the +e3 .a+ager .ay havetho/ghtthat the Mi1hael i+1ide+t 3o/ldhappe+agai+3hi1hgoes to sho3 ho3 o/t o2 to/1h they 3ere5 The F/+da.e+talistChristia+sta226 =/lia a+dDo+le2t the ho/si+gsta225 Maryrepla1edthe.3ithor.aa+d=e++y3ho3eregive+a7o43ith +o spe1i2i1 age+da 4e1a/se the gover+.e+t 9ept 1ha+gi+gthe.e+tal healthservi1e+everprese+ti+ga1learpla+5 Thegover+.e+t see.ed .ore 1o+1er+ed 3ith reass/ri+g the p/4li1a+d tra+s2erri+g respo+si4ility to the 1harities5 As a res/lt thesta22 3ere o4liged to i+ve+t their o3+ 3or9 pla+5 Theyi+2or.ed/sthat they3o/ld4eholdi+g.o+thlyhealtha+dsa2ety 1he19s5 Aith a+ ele1tro+i1 ther.o.eter their sy.4ol o2a/thority they 3o/ld test the tap 3ater 2or Legio++aire:sdisease5 Ae3ere told that this 3as a re>/ire.e+t o2 theho/si+g asso1iatio+5 Ahe+ I telepho+ed the ho/si+gasso1iatio+theyhad+o9+o3ledge o2 s/1ha re>/ire.e+t5Thesei+spe1tio+s3ereerrati1allyti.eda+do2te+at a2e3days: +oti1e5 Li, hated these i+tr/sio+s5 A+yo+e 3ho isi+volved i+ 1reative 3or9 9+o3s that priva1y is o2te+ esse+tialto the pro1ess5 Artists /s/ally 3a+t to sho3 o+ly 2i+ished 3or9i2 at all5 The visits 3ere disr/ptive6 4/t the sta22 arg/ed that +o$o+et/r+ed/ptotheirho/se.eeti+gs6 a+dthatle2to+theiro3+ patie+ts 3o/ld +ot o+ly deteriorate 4/t they 3o/ld +egle1tthepropertyas happe+ed3ithaprevio/s te+a+t 3hoa2terre2/si+g to ad.it visitors 2or a year 3as 2o/+d to have 1overed#the e+tire 2loor s/r2a1e o2 his 2lat 3ithr/44isha+dlitter6e+o/gh to 2ill t3e+ty 4i+ li+ers5 I+ the 1ha+ge 2ro. the .ores/pportiveat.osphereo2the1o../+al 1areho.e6 Li,3asallo3ed.ore2reedo.6 a+dtho/ghshe3asa4leto1o+ti+/e3ithher 1reativei+terestsshe3as also2reeto+ot eat a+d4e1o.e .ore a+ore;i15 It 3as 1lear 2ro.the start that-SYCHE3ere+ota4leto1ope3iththesit/atio+6 soo+Li,3as o4vio/sly /+der3eight 4/t 3he+6 soo+ a2ter she had.ovedi+6 she atte+deda S/..er Fayre r/+4ythe lo1al-SYCHE o22i1e5 o$o+e see.ed to +oti1e let alo+e 1are6 a+d2or the 2irst ti.e I had to +oti2y the so1ial servi1es .ysel26 apatter+ that 3as to repeat itsel2 .a+y ti.es5 S/4se>/e+tly 3he+I did as9 -SYCHE 2or help they a1t/ally re2/sed to +oti2y theso1ial servi1es .erely addi+g :3hat 1a+ 3e doB: leavi+g Li,:s2ate i+ .y ha+ds5Livi+g i+ the sa.e ho/se as Li, 2or the last years o2 her li2e Ide1ided to 9eep .y dista+1e early o+6 o+ly tal9i+g to her 3he+I ra+ i+to her 4y 1ha+1e 3he+ I 3as leavi+g or ret/r+i+g to the4/ildi+g5 I2 I +oti1ed that she 3as si19 or that the lights had +ot4ee+ o+ i+her2lat2ora 1o/pleo2daysI+oti2ied theso1ialservi1es a+d o2te+ she re1eived help as a res/lt5 I told her I 3asdoi+g this a+d she had +o pro4le. 3ith this5 I soo+ 2o/+d thati2 I 3as persiste+t the so1ial servi1es 3o/ld visit her a+d p/ther 4a19 i+ to/1h 3ith the appropriate health 3or9ers6spe1i2i1ally the Red Ho/se eati+g disorders /+it at Maidsto+e3ho 3o/ld ta9e her i+ as a+ i+$patie+t or day patie+t5 Frie+dsa+d Fa.ily /+trai+ed 1harity 3or9ers6 eve+ trai+edpro2essio+al.e+talhealth 3or9ersare+o .ore a4le to 1ope3ith the a+ore;i1 patie+t tha+ per2or. heart s/rgery5 Li, 3asdevio/s6 her ill+ess .ade her so a+d she had lear+t ho3 to 2oola+yo+e1losetoher lo+gago5 This .ea+t that eve+i2 she!allo3ed reg/lar visitors they 3o/ld 4e .et 4y a highlyrehearseda+dpra1tiseda1t i+volvi+g1lothi+gs9il2/lly3or+a+d ad7/sted to 1o+1eal 3eight loss a+d a .a++er a+d1o+versatio+ so polite a+d a dispositio+ so s3eet that she 1o/lddel/de al.ost a+yo+e6 4/t 1o.i+g 2ro.a 4a19gro/+d o2psy1hiatri11are3herehera1t3o/ldhave4ee+i..ediatelysee+ as tra+spare+t6 a+d +ot seei+g her o+ a daily 4asis I 3as/s/ally l/19y e+o/gh to +oti1e 3he+ Li, 3as drasti1ally/+der3eight5 TheS/pporti+g-eoplei+itiative3aspart o2the+atio+3iderespo+se to the disasters that the Care i+ the Co../+ityi+itiative had 4ro/ght5 I+ part the idea 3as to .a9e 1areage+1ies a11o/+ta4le 2or their a1tio+ a+d 3as a sa2eg/ardagai+st /+s1r/p/lo/s la+dlords 3ho ra+ hostels 2or the.e+tally ill 2or pro2it6 e;ploiti+g the patie+ts5 B/t the 1o/+1il+o33a+tedevide+1eo2sta22patie+t parti1ipatio+6 re>/iri+g-SYCHE to 1reate pro7e1ts to s/pport their 1lai. 2or 2i+a+1e5I+ the spri+g o2 *%%& -SYCHE ho/si+g sta22 had 4ee+ 2/ll o2e+th/sias. 2or a +e3 reside+t Coli+5 As soo+ as he arrived Iheard hi. say :Li, a+d David they loo9 so ill6 I do+:t 1are i2they die5: He i+gratiated hi.sel2 3ith -SYCHE 4y 4/ildi+g agarde+ str/1t/re 3ith the 2a+1y de19i+g see+ o+ i.prove yo/rgarde+ televisio+ progra..es5 Tho/gh at least hal2 thereside+ts i+1l/di+g Li, 3ere agai+st these i.prove.e+ts-SYCHE i+sisted that the .odi2i1atio+ o2 the garde+ go aheada+d the+ said that they 3o/ld 4e p/tti+g i+ +e3 2lo3er 4edsaro/+d the str/1t/re5 I 3ar+ed the sta22 that the garde+ 3o/ld4e1o.e /+.a+agea4le 3ith +o other reside+ts apart 2ro. .ei+terestedi+garde+i+g6 a+do+lya3ee9lyvisit 2ro.apartti.egarde+er64/t =e++yi+sisted5A la+ds1apegarde+er3as)%i+vitedtovisit a+dgivea+esti.ate5 Ihad+et 1/rtai+sthatallo3ed.etoseeo/t 4/t stoppedthoseo/tsideloo9i+gi+5=e++y told the la+ds1ape garde+er that o+e o2 the reside+ts 3asa @poo2:5 =e++y de1ided to give the 7o4 to Coli+5 I 3as told 4y a-SYCHEsta22 .e.4er that Coli+:s2ather had.o+ey5 His2ather 3o/ld give hi. a large s/. o2 .o+ey i2 he got a 7o45 Ido+:t 9+o3 i2 the 3or9 i+ the garde+ 1o/+ted to3ards this deal5He +eeded a ho.e 2or his 1hildre+ 3hile he 3aited 2or a 1o/rtde1isio+ regardi+g their 1/stody5 I2 he 1o/ld +ot p/t the. /p2or the three days a 3ee9 that he 3as allo3ed the 1o/rt .ight+ot 4eso2avo/ra4leto3ardhi.i+their 7/dg.e+t5 Havi+gdo+ated his ti.e a+d e22ort i+to :i.provi+g: the garde+6 he the+set a4o/t .ovi+g his 1hildre+6 t3o girls o2 7/+ior s1hool age6i+to his 2lat o+ a part ti.e 4asis5 He 1har.ed =e++y a+d or.ai+to allo3i+g his 1hildre+ to /se o+e o2 his roo.s as a 4edroo.a+d i+stalled 4/+9 4eds5 or.a a+d =e++y visited Coli+reg/larly6 givi+g this 1learly >/ite 1apa4le patie+t s/pport that.ight have 4ee+ 4etter dire1ted else3here5Yo/ 1a+ i.agi+e the +oise a+d disr/ptio+ this 2ello3 1a/sed63ith his 1hildre+ a+d garde+ pro7e1t6 i+ a ho/se .ea+t 2or the.e+tally ill5 Coli+ 3as desperate 2or partial 1/stody rights 2orhis 1hildre+6 a+d allegedly 2or his 2ather:s .o+ey5 Thedesperatio+1a/sedstressthestressi+t/r+.a+i2estedi+his4ehavio/r5Coli+4e1a.e2ora 3hilethe li2e a+dso/lo2theparty6 e+1o/ragi+g 2e.ale reside+ts to dri+96 o22eri+g Li,al1ohol all the ti.e 9+o3i+g that these reside+ts 3ere o+.edi1atio+a+dthat al1ohol is 1o+tra$i+di1ated5 Thegarde+pro7e1t 3as +ot 7/st a+ e;a.ple o2 2avo/ritis. to3ard Coli+ 4y=e++y a+d or.a5 The garde+ str/1t/re 3o/ld6 3hile the2lo3er 4eds 3ere3eeded a+d 2/ll o2 +e3 pla+ts6 provide a 2i+e))e;a.pleo2asta22ledpro7e1t 3he+thesta22re+e3edtheirappli1atio+2or theS/pporti+g-eoplegra+t they+eededto1lai. a h/+dred po/+ds a 3ee9 2or loo9i+g a2ter the reside+ts5Coli+did+ot +eed./1hs/pport5 Hehadagirl2rie+da+dsed/1ed o+e o2 the 2e.ale reside+ts he had 4e2rie+ded5 To 4e2air it ./st have 4ee+ harro3i+g 2or hi. to have to loo9 a2terhis 1hildre+6 2eed the. p/t the. to 4ed the+ get the. ready 2ors1hool the +e;t .or+i+g 2ro.a ho/se 2/ll o2 lo+g ter.psy1hiatri1 patie+ts5 B/t the+6 seei+g as a patie+t had already4ee+ re2erred to Broad.oor 2ro. here it 1o/ld 4e arg/ed thathe 3as p/tti+g his 1hildre+ at ris95 Tho/gh he 3as desperatehe 3as a patie+t a+d good 2ather 4/t he 3as +ot a4le to sho3the sa.e >/alities to all the reside+ts5 The garde+ pro7e1t 3as astraight tra+sa1tio+ 4et3ee+ sta22 a+d Coli+5 I+ ret/r+ 2or3or9i+g i+ the garde+ he a+d his 1hildre+ 3ere give+ lodgi+gs5The sta22 e+1o/raged a+d s/pported Coli+ 3hile Li, 3as le2t todeteriorate5 Li, de1li+ed Coli+:s o22ers o2 al1ohol a+d2rie+dship5 She had her o3+ 2rie+ds5 Li,:s sel2$har. s1ars o+ her ar.s had 2aded to 3hite6 i+di1ati+gthat she had 4ee+ thro/gh that phase5 I 3as sho19ed 3he+ To.the 1areta9er told .e that Li, had sel2$har.ed re1e+tly6 4/t +ots/rprised5 So.ethi+g or so.eo+e 3as triggeri+g Li,@s +egative4ehavio/r5 To.as9edColi++ot toleavesharptools lyi+garo/+d the 1o..o+ roo.5 Ho3ever Coli+ 1o+ti+/ed to do so6a+d t/r+ed /p to a ho/se .eeti+g sharpe+i+g a 1hisel5 Seei+gthat Coli+had4ee+allo3edto.ovehis 1hildre+i+totheho/se6 Li,:s/pstairs +eigh4o/r Li+da.ovedher 4oy2rie+d=oh+i+5 Boththesea1tio+s agai+st ther/les set o/t i+thete+a+1y agree.e+t5 Coli+ held a garde+ di++er party to 3hi1ho+ly 1ertai+ reside+ts 3ere i+vited5 Aith lo/d ./si16 3i+e a+d4eer they sat i+ the str/1t/re /+til past .id+ight leavi+g 4ottles)*a+d glasses to 4e 1leared /p the +e;t day a+d a 4/+1h o2 ho/se9eys 4e ret/r+ed 2ro. a garde+ ta4le to the 2ello3:s door the2ollo3i+g .or+i+g5 Aith rel/1ta+1e -SYCHE eve+t/ally.oved Coli+ o+ tho/gh they have asto+ishi+gly ele1ted hi. totheir 4oardo2gover+ors5 Hele2t 4ehi+dhi.4o;eso21ra2t.aterials i+the4ase.e+t6 ope+4o;es1o+tai+i+g.odelli+g9+ives6 s1alpels6 s/rgi1al 4lades a+d ra,or 4lades 2or all to see6as a leavi+g gi2t5 I 3as le2t 3ith the /+pleasa+t tas9 o2disposi+go2 theseite.s asthey3ereo4vio/slyapote+tialtrigger toasel2$har.er li9eLi,5 /ali2ied sta225 ot so i+the 1o../+ity6 3here Li, 3as isolated6 livi+g o+ her o3+5 She3as visited 4y -SYCHE sta22 4/t .a+aged to hide the 2a1t thatshe 3as da+gero/sly /+der3eight5 I3as2/rio/sat -SYCHEa+dColi+2orthedisr/ptio+they1a/sed3ith their garde+ pro7e1t5 I p/t .ya+ger i+to.yart3or96 I had a 1ha+1e to sho3 3or9 at the yearly e;hi4itio+ atHall -la1e 3ith the /ser led art gro/p Ce+trepie1es6 4ased i+Cray2ord5 There 3as e+o/gh +egativity i+ the -SYCHE ho/se to triggerLi,:s a+ore;ia5 Li, told .e that she 2elt isolated i+ the1o../+ity5 A+d 3hat a 1o../+ity it is 2or the .e+tally ill toe;ist i+5 Aith so1iety progressively .ore viole+t6 .orei+tolera+t a+d.ore1ro3dedthepsy1hiatri1 patie+t is alsoe;pe1ted to tolerate pre7/di1e6 /s/ally /+derthe i+2l/e+1eo2/+3a+ted a+d /++e1essary @.edi1atio+:5Li,:s optio+s 3ere 1o+sta+tly 4ei+g red/1ed5 Leavi+g the ho/setovisittheshopsor the par9 3as a+ordeal 2orLi,5Tho/ghlo1al reside+ts have 2ree health1are a+d the 4e+e2it syste. to2all 4a19o+6 theyhave4ee++odi22ere+t totherest o2 the1o/+try i+ adopti+g the 2ashio+a4le /ptight a+d sel2ish attit/deo2 the *)st 1e+t/ry5 Sadly the attit/de o2 the 1o../+ity to3ardthe 1are i+ the 1o../+ity patie+t has 4ee+ deplora4le5 Therehas 4ee+ a4sol/tely +o atte.pt 3hatsoever 4y s/11essivegover+.e+ts o2 a+y party to ed/1ate the 1o../+ity as to 3hatto e;pe1t 2ro. the 1are i+ the 1o../+ity progra..e5