Behind the Walls of the World’s Psychiatric Hospitals

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This week's episode discusses the history of Magdalen Asylums (also called Magdalen Laundries) in England and Ireland. Focus lies primarily on the history of these laundries in Ireland. Find out how and why these asylums started, how many there were of them in England and Ireland, and what finally brought them to a close.

My primary source for this episode is the book Do Penance or Perish by Frances Finnegan, an article by the Justice for Magdalenes Research, and various other online sources. All sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.

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This week's episode features the story of "Tammy," a survivor of Goodna/Wolston Park Mental Hospital, in her own words. The focus of her story lies in the aftermath of her time spent in institutions and how her hospitalization has affected the rest of her life.

Trigger warnings for this episode include the use of explicit, outdated, and ableist language; mention of suicide and self-harm; and strong themes of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.

If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, help is available. In the U.S., dial 9-8-8. For a list of international suicide hotlines, please consult here: https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/

The story from this episode is taken from the book Goodna Girls by Adele Chynoweth.

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This week's episode tells the story of Jean, who later went by Erin, and her experience at multiple adolescent treatment facilities in Queensland, including Goodna/Wolston Park Mental Hospital. She also discusses the lasting effects her childhood had on her life.

Trigger warnings for this episode include mention of sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, drug abuse, and death by suicide.

The primary source for this episode is the book Goodna Girls by Adele Chynoweth.

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This week's episode examines the history of Goodna Mental Hospital, which also went by Brisbane Mental Hospital, Brisbane Special Hospital, and Wolston Park Mental Hospital during the years between 1937 and its closure in 2001. Find out what controversial treatments were used there and why the treatments took an almost 10 year hiatus. Learn what led to the deinstitutionalization movement in Queensland.

My primary source is a page on the history of Wolston Park by the Queensland Department of Health. All of my sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.

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This week's episode discusses the early history of Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum/Goodna Hospital for the Insane. Find out why the asylum had to be moved and rebuilt several times during its early years. Learn about the superintendents that were crucial to shaping the future of the hospital. Discover what "treatments" were offered to returning veterans of WWI.

All sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript. Shout out to multiple Queensland government websites and Newspapers.com for most of my sources.

Cultural note: Aboriginal Australians should note that this episode uses the names and information of people now deceased.

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This week we head down under to Queensland to learn about Ipswich Mental Hospital, which went by many other names during its 120 year history. Find out which name is the reason this hospital was selected (I promise you'll be able to tell!). Discover how the area went from a formal penal colony to discovering coal to housing a small branch of the Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum.

All sources are listed at the end of the episode transcript.

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This week we travel to South Korea to the defunct Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital, which was once named the third most haunted place in South Korea and one of the freakiest places in the world. Learn about the legends and myths surrounding the facility, as well as the very real history of mental health treatment in 20th century South Korea.

Sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.

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This week's episode concludes the series on Seacliff Mental Hospital and the story of New Zealand writer Janet Frame. Find out why Frame was sent to Seacliff, how many psychiatric hospitals she would be admitted to, and how her writing actually saved her life.

The main source for this episode is Janet Frame's autobiography An Angel at My Table. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.

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This week's episode examines the childhood and young adulthood of New Zealand writer Janet Frame. Learn what it was like for Frame growing up during the Great Depression and World War II, all while hoping to learn to develop and perfect the craft of writing. This episode includes excerpts from very early in her writing career.

The main source for this episode is from Janet Frame's autobiography, To the Is-Land. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.

Stay tuned to the very end of the episode for a delightful surprise.

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This episode features one of Janet Frame's short stories, "Gorse is not People," which was featured in The New Yorker on August 25, 2008. Link here: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/09/01/gorse-is-not-people

References to this work are from part two of Janet Frame's autobiography, An Angel at my Table.

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