Milledgeville – Georgia Lunatic Asylum – Central State Hospital by Jackie Hayes

Georgia State Lunatic Idiot and Epileptic Asylum opened and accepted its first patients in December 1842.  It was later known as Georgia State Sanitarium, Georgia Lunatic Asylum, Milledgeville State Hospital and now is known as Central State Hospital.  Dr. Thomas Green oversaw the facilities during its first 30 years and utilized a family model of treatment in which patients were treated and cared for in the manner and kindness of extended family. At one time it housed 13,000 patients and covered approximately 2000 acres and utilized 200 buildings. Over 25,000 patients have died and are buried on the campus, although many grave-markers were thrown in the woods by groundskeepers and they include only numbers as opposed to names. The buildings on the campus resemble large plantation style historic buildings and due to the large population of patients include many rooms, long hallways, and various types of buildings that meet the needs of its large community.  Although the facility was built to support the children, adolescents, and adults with mental health issues, physical disabilities, and epilepsy, many patients were admitted with unclear diagnoses and mere descriptions as “funny.”  The place unfortunately experienced overcrowding with staff to patient ratios of 1 to 100 and utilized less than caring techniques of treatment.  Doctors used lobotomies, electroshock, insulin shock, confinement in cages and straitjackets, cold showers and steam baths.  In 1959, an Atlanta report named Jack Nelson investigated the facility and found that many former patients had been promoted to “doctor” status and participated in treatment of other patients.  At that time a mere 48 “doctors” were treating thousands but not one of the “doctors” was a qualified psychiatrist.  Nelson won a Pulitzer prize for his work.  From 1960 on, the hospital’s population continuously declined.  As the culture shifted to deinstitutionalization, more and more patients and families opted for community care.  In 2010, the Behavioral and Mental Health Department in Georgia determined that Central State Hospital should be closed.  The facility is currently open and caters to 200 patients but is continuously gradually diminishing its services and populations so that it may eventually close entirely.  Most of the buildings are in decay and only a handful are currently used to support the remaining population.