Florida State Institution by Liz Nitzel
The Florida State
Hospital for the Insane in Chattahoochee, Florida was originally a
military arsenal in the Seminole Wars then it became a state prison but
in 1876 it became the State Hospital. The prison already had a history
of abuse and it appears that the abuse and unlawful imprisonment
continued throughout the next hundred years.
One famous patient,
Emmett Foley, is depicted in the movie, “Chattahoochee,” based on the
real life experience of a Korean War veteran who returns from war to
realize that he cannot afford his family. He attempts to set up a
situation to have the police murder him but he is captured and sent to
Chattahoochee. Emmett endears horrific living conditions and beatings
but soon he decides to document the treatment in the hospital and slip
it out of the institution in a bible while his sister is visiting. This
prompted an investigation and reforms.
In 2016, Chattahoochee was
back in the news when budget cuts led to staff reductions and
overcrowding. The Institutions in Florida received $100 million in
budget cuts then started doubling up patients in rooms without regard
for safety. On April 23, 2016, a 60 year old patient is stomped to death
by his 19 year old roommate, this is following a similar incident in
January of 2015.
Today the Florida State Hospital is depicted on its
official website like a country club with beautiful fountains and happy
people of diverse races walking down a perfectly manicured sidewalk.
The mission statement reads: “Partners with Stakeholders to Promote
Competency Restoration, and Personal Recovery and Resiliency through a
Trauma Informed Approach.” The deaths began in the early days of the
institution as depicted on a Facebook page: Florida State Hospital’s
Lost and Forgotten. The more recent deaths caused by patient neglect,
failure to follow safety protocol are still being revealed in newspapers
and still protected by laws, Luis Santana, a 42 year old man had been
given 5 strong antipsychotic medications then left in a bathtub to die.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Hospital
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/chattahoochee-1990
http://www.tampabay.com/news/floridas-mental-hospitals-are-still-violent-and-deadly-w-video/2295763
http://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/mental-health/fsh
https://www.facebook.com/Florida-State-Hospitals-Lost-and-Forgotten-324351667756430/
It's just horrifying to hear about the conditions that people either endured or died from in these institutions. And how much have things really changed? That's what is so frightening about these institutions. Can they ever really be what they were once hoped to be with the idea of moral treatment? Or is the nature of an "institution" such that they will always have these horrific occurrences? It just makes you think!
ReplyDeleteSandy, I was shocked and repulsed at the recent deaths and injuries to patients and staff. We have got to stop pushing people to "do more with less." People die when corners are cut, even with the best of intentions.
ReplyDeleteWe hear about how horrible these institutions were in the past, but to see that after how far we have come in mental health care that these injustices continue is disheartening. Just another example of how mental health stigma is alive and well in our society to this day.
ReplyDeleteWow, it is certainly horrifying to read about the history of Florida State Hospital, and worse yet, the horrors that remain reality today. It is clear that although history has taught us many lessons with regard to mental health treatment, we must remain diligent in ensuring the funding, focus, and support for true client/patient care with kind, humane methods of treatment.
ReplyDelete