The Locked Ward: A humane and revealing account of life on the frontlines of mental health care.
Dennis O'Donnell
Jan 2012 · Random House
4.2star
25 reviewsreport
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352
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About this ebook
An extraordinary account of life behind the locked doors of a secure psychiatric ward from a nurse who worked there for seven years.
Dennis O'Donnell started work as an orderly in the Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit of a large hospital in Scotland in 2000. In his daily life he encountered fear, violence and despair but also a considerable amount of care and compassion. Recounting the stories of the patients he worked with, and those of his colleagues on the ward, here he examines major mental health conditions, methods of treatment - medication, how religion, sex, wealth, health and drugs can bear influence on mental health, the prevailing attitudes to psychiatric illness, the authorities, the professionals & society.
What emerges is a document of humanity and humour, a remarkable memoir that sheds light on a world that still remains largely unknown.
'This is a superb study of people whose minds have gone wrong, and the art of caring for them' Evening Standard
Dennis O'Donnell started work as an orderly in the Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit of a large hospital in Scotland in 2000. In his daily life he encountered fear, violence and despair but also a considerable amount of care and compassion. Recounting the stories of the patients he worked with, and those of his colleagues on the ward, here he examines major mental health conditions, methods of treatment - medication, how religion, sex, wealth, health and drugs can bear influence on mental health, the prevailing attitudes to psychiatric illness, the authorities, the professionals & society.
What emerges is a document of humanity and humour, a remarkable memoir that sheds light on a world that still remains largely unknown.
'This is a superb study of people whose minds have gone wrong, and the art of caring for them' Evening Standard
Ratings and reviews
4.2
25 reviews
lisa marie
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February 7, 2023
enjoyed reading this memoir. had been wanting to read it for years and I'm glad I finally did. it made me laugh many times. and the humanness of it all, great book
Graham Thorne
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September 7, 2022
I have my own history of working in similar environments albeit slightly further back in time. All of the old terminology and thinking within the book reflects my own experiences. To anyone who has not worked within the care of the "mentally subnormal" (thank goodness that those kind of descriptions have now been outlawed) then this is one of the best books for gaining a true and accurate insight.
Natara Newell
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October 27, 2017
Amazing book, loved it from beginning to end. A light hearted look in to a world unspoken about.
About the author
Dennis O'Donnell was born in Scotland and attended Edinburgh University where he read English. He was an English teacher for many years before leaving to become a psychiatric orderly. He now lives in West Lothian.
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