Stan Murphy commenced his nursing career fifty years ago at the Deva Hospital, in Chester, and has delved into his experience to pen this fascinating book.
Mental illness has always been a taboo subject and the old asylums, like the Deva Hospital, were institutions that society demanded, but wished to forget.
The author writes with authority, a blend of fact and fiction, an insight into the problems endured by staff behind the locked doors, and the despair of patients without hope, incarcerated in the 'system', cared for but stripped of their dignity and, inevitably, their will to ever lead a normal life.
One such patient was Charlie, an unfortunate victim of circumstances, whose story is typical of what went on. Should he have been committed in the first place? Would he ever get out, or was he destined to be just another statistic...out of sight, out of mind?
A highly personal story, poignant and occasionally disturbing, INSANE, BUT NOT DAFT also serves as an invaluable record...an unofficial account, but nonetheless thought-provoking.
Mental illness has always been a taboo subject and the old asylums, like the Deva Hospital, were institutions that society demanded, but wished to forget.
The author writes with authority, a blend of fact and fiction, an insight into the problems endured by staff behind the locked doors, and the despair of patients without hope, incarcerated in the 'system', cared for but stripped of their dignity and, inevitably, their will to ever lead a normal life.
One such patient was Charlie, an unfortunate victim of circumstances, whose story is typical of what went on. Should he have been committed in the first place? Would he ever get out, or was he destined to be just another statistic...out of sight, out of mind?
A highly personal story, poignant and occasionally disturbing, INSANE, BUT NOT DAFT also serves as an invaluable record...an unofficial account, but nonetheless thought-provoking.
