Abandoned asylums and psychiatric hospitals are a popular subject among urban explorers and history enthusiasts. These forgotten institutions once housed and treated individuals suffering from mental illness, but now they lay abandoned and decaying, often shrouded in mystery and legend.
The rise of these institutions can be traced back to the late 19th century, when attitudes towards mental illness shifted from punishment to treatment. Mental hospitals were established as a way to provide care for those with mental disorders, often in rural areas, isolated from the rest of society.
However, as time passed and treatments evolved, many of these institutions became outdated and were eventually abandoned. In some cases, they were replaced by modern psychiatric facilities, while others were simply left to decay.
For urban explorers, abandoned psychiatric hospitals offer a unique glimpse into the past and the world of mental health care. The derelict buildings and abandoned medical equipment provide a eerie and sometimes frightening atmosphere that has become a popular destination for those seeking to experience the thrill of the unknown.
However, it is important to remember that these sites are not just abandoned buildings. They were once places where individuals received care, and the stories and memories of those who lived and worked there should be respected.
While exploring these abandoned sites can be tempting, it is important to remember that they can also be dangerous, and often trespassers are subject to legal consequences. Instead, those interested in the history of these institutions can learn about them through books, articles, and documentaries.
In conclusion, abandoned psychiatric hospitals offer a fascinating window into the history of mental health care, but should be approached with respect and caution. The stories of those who lived and worked in these institutions should not be forgotten, and it is up to us to preserve the memories and lessons of the past for future generations.
Share this Page Facebook Twitter Reddit Pinterest Facebook A location I’ve wanted to get to for a long time, note that this one is not abandoned – but it sure looks like it! In its heyday, this once-abandoned institution was a destination for those who needed help and couldn’t take care of themselves. Purchased from the military […]
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Flashback Friday – Vacant Children’s Mental Health Centre The province of Ontario has been serving people with developmental disabilities since the late 1800s. Starting with Huronia Regional Centre, Ontario’s first institution, it opened in 1876 and closed in 2009. After the opening of Huronia, a further 15+ additional institutions were opened all over
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Exploring the Abandoned Terrence Tower at the Abandoned Rochester Psychiatric Hospital This now abandoned psychiatric hospital known as Terrence Tower at the Rochester Psychiatric Hospital was built in the late 1950s, finally opening its doors in 1959. The facility housed over 1,000 beds, and patients of varying mental disabilities. People with anything from mild to
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Abandoned Rideau Regional Centre Urban Exploring The now Abandoned Rideau Regional Centre, located in Smiths Falls, Ontario, opened in 1951 as the Ontario Hospital School. Along with similar residential institutions throughout Ontario, it was designed to house individuals who were deemed to have cognitive and physical disabilities. Individuals could be admitted by parents and guardians,
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Abandoned Childrens Regional Psychiatric Centre This abandoned location is an Abandoned Childrens Psychiatric Centre for children and youth. Counselling and treatment programs here were geared to help children and youth up to 21 years of age who suffered from the following difficulties: – developmental – emotional – behavioural – psychological – psychiatric. The province announced
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Abandoned Century Manor Insane Asylum Hamilton Ontario | Hamilton Asylum for the Insane Century Manor is a historic structure built in 1884 and the only remaining element of the asylum. The Victoria Gothic building on 500 acres property that remained in use until the 1980s. Originally called East House, it served various roles: – home to
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Exploring an Abandoned Childrens Hospital Buddhist Temple and Forgotten Playground Originally opened in 1965, this is a former children’s psychiatric hospital, it was originally intended to provide residential supports to children with a developmental disability, however, by the early 1970s, there were more adults than children. The psychiatric hospital closed in 1998 For several years
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Vacant Psychiatric Hospital Urban Exploration 2014 to 2018 Over the years I’ve explored this old psych hospital dozens and dozens of times, even put up hammocks in the forensics unit and spent the night in 2017. My first few visits were done the usual way, we walked the property and found a way in
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South Western Regional Centre Psychiatric Hospital Opened in 1961, the Southwestern Regional Centre was originally named the “Ontario Hospital School for Retarded Children at Cedar Springs”. The facility provided long-term care for residents with mental disability, providing capacity relief from the overwhelming demand at the Huronia Centre. It was the last massive institution built in
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Rockwood Asylum for the Criminally Insane Kingston Ontario Urban Exploring During the mid 1800’s before the construction of the Rockwood Asylum for the Criminally Insane, Kingston Penitentiary was overrun with mentally ill and criminally insane inmates. To solve this problem, The Rockwood Criminal Lunatic Asylum was built on the shores of Lake Ontario, close to the
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UPDATED PHOTOS & VIDEO AT BOTTOM OF PAGE FROM THIS ABANDONED PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL This location an Abandoned Psychiatric Hospital/Institutional Facility, a portion of the buildings were completely modernized, another portion was somewhat preserved, another was entirely decayed and left to rot while another had been undergoing work. In addition, some of the wings in some
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Buffalo State Asylum Inside the former Buffalo State Asylum, now known as the Richardson Olmstead Complex.
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Exploring the Abandoned London Asylum for the Insane For almost 145 years mental health care had been offered on the grounds of the Insane Asylum known as the London Asylum for the Insane location. It began with the opening of the London Asylum for the Insane in 1870 when the location was considered outside London city limits.
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Index of Psychiatric Symptoms in Abandoned London Psychiatric Hospital Located deep in the tunnels of the abandoned London psychiatric hospital is a library, found in the library was a box full of cards that listed various Psychiatric Symptoms, simply labeled “Symptom Index” Upon further inspection, inside this box were tabs each listing psychiatric
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Exploring the Abandoned London Psychiatric Hospital Since 1870 this property has served as the London Psychiatric Hospital with London Health Sciences, from as far back to the days when alcohol was used to sedate patients, restraints were common and a lack of sensitivity to the mentally ill was captured by the name “Insane Asylum”. Over the years,
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Willard Asylum for the Chronic Insane Videos Part One Video of this explore takes us along the main floor of this old abandoned asylum for the chronic insane. Part TWO Video of this explore takes us to the upper and more dangerous floors of this old abandoned asylum for the chronic insane. The Abandoned Willard
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Urban Exploring The Abandoned St Thomas Psychiatric Hospital In August of 1937 construction began on what was then known as the Ontario Hospital, St. Thomas. Built on the land of six area farm families, for the purpose of treating people with psychiatric illness, the hospital accepted its first 32 patients in April of 1939. By
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