I have now embarked on a research project looking at the Therapeutic Community at the Ingrebourne Centre from 1957 to 2002
AIM
This project has as its core question: What has happened to Therapeutic Communities? Particularly those that worked with adults with mental health problems.
METHODS
At present I am looking at how the Ingrebourne Center Therapeutic Community began. This involves understanding the nature of psychiatric care during the 1940s to 1960s. I am in the process of conducting a number of interviews with people who were patients or staff during that time, both at the center and also elsewhere. It is already clear that whilst many Asyla, or psychiatric hospitals, were well past their sell by date, and the conditions in them were horrific, this was not true everywhere. A particularly powerful account of the former is given in ‘Brother Lunatic’ by Paul Warr. This book, published in 1957, is perhaps one of the most important books on the subject of that decade. Unfortunately it appears to have never reached a mass market in the way that the equally valuable observations of Erving Goffman did (Asylums). Paul Warr was a newspaper reporter who decided to take up a career in psychiatric nursing and recorded his experiences during his training. Whilst what he describes is frightening and appalling, it is also very sobering as he gives an honest account of how he was sucked into behaving the same way as some of his nursing colleagues were. It becomes clear that in that situation I could have behaved similarly to either the patients, nurses or the doctors, and would have found it very difficult to avoid doing so.
This sets the scene for what the work of change at Ingrebourne, Fulbourne, Claybury and the many other hospitals where changes began to occur aimed to overcome.
Simultaneously to trying to understand how these changes were occurring, I am also trying to come to terms with the range of anti-psychiatric critiques that there are. Foucault, Scull, Rose, Miller, Castel, and so on. They clearly make profoundly important observations and insights – but do they really have to be quite so difficult to read and understand? Leaves me feeling quite stupid.
INTERVIEWS
I have commenced on conducting a number of oral history interviews, following a day of training at the Planned Environment Therapy Trust. These so far have proved very moving, provocative and educational. Below is the introductory leaflet I will be sending to those I hope to interview in the future. This will be a living document and will go through many interations as I learn more about what is involved.
The Ingrebourne Centre
The Vicissitudes of a Therapeutic Community
Tom Harrison PhD Research Project
Medical History Unit: University of Birmingham
& the Planned Environment Therapy Trust.
Oral History Interview
I am interviewing a range of people with regards to this research project. This will include those who have been patients and staff at the Ingrebourne Centre, and people who have been involved in other therapeutic communities and psychiatric care during the latter half of the twentieth century.
The purpose of the interview is to find out about conditions in psychiatric hospitals during the 1940s – 1980s, to gain understanding of how therapeutic communities worked, and to bring ‘real life’ to supplement the written material available. It will also be helpful to find out people’s opinions of what they experienced, either positive or negative. Part of the task is to explore whether the therapeutic community approach was valuable, and what its faults were.
The subject matter will mainly concentrate on experiences within the psychiatric services, and opinions on those services. It is likely that some personal history will also emerge during the conversation.
Once the interview is over I will either type up the manuscript myself, or arrange for someone else to do so. Once this is done you will be sent a copy of the transcription and a copy of the recording. I will also be sending a copyright and assignment form that you will be asked to complete that will instruct myself and the Planned Environment Therapy Trust as to how the material collected can be used in the future.
I was an in-patient at the Ingrebourne Centre under the care of Dr. H.N. Ghadiali. I set up a darkroom and taught photography there. I also knew Dr. Richard Crocket I was at the Ingrebourne Centre in 1978. Please let me know if you are interested in my case.
With kind Regards.
Princess Maria Sviatopolk-Mirski
Stratford/London E15 4PR
Hi Maria, saw your post – re the Ingrebourne Centre. I was an inpatient in 1978, your photo looks familiar? My name was Christine Newley, Haru was my Consultant. I was there for about 18 mths. Would love to know how others are, so many years later. Kind regards.;))
Hi, for what it’s worth, in 1963 my Mum was having problems with depression and spent some weeks at the Ingrebourne Centre. We lived in South Ockendon at the time, not so far away. I was 6, my sister was 4, and we would stay over with her and go to school nearby. Loved to wander round the corridors and grounds. I remember one or two of the patients. I don’t know if this is what you’re looking for but my contact details are below.
Hi, my Mum was also an inpatient at the Ingrebourne from 1984 to 1987 and thought her time there was very helpful. I don’t know if it is a bit late timewise for you but she says she would be willing to talk to you about her experience.
Frances Burrow
I was a patient at the Ingrebourne Centre and would be more than happy to talk to you. Please get in touch if I can help.
Hi, I was an inpatient at the Ingrebourne Centre in 1977/1978, for about 18mths. Haru Ghaladi, was my Consultant. Also had a short stay at Warley Hospital. The difference in treatments and patient care was huge! My thanks to Mr Blaise-Maloney for getting me out of there. Any help let me know. Kind regards.