Introduction
Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was inspired by the author's time spent as an orderly at a mentral health facility in Menlo Park, California. Narrated by the schizophrenic patient Chief Bromden, the reader explores many of the psychiatric practices of the 50s and 60s (such as electro-convulsive shock therapy and pre-frontal lobotomy) within the context created by the power hungry Nurse Ratched.The Task
Based on your research, record your thoughts and experiences in a journal (blog). Using your journal reflections as a guide, you will create a product (this may be a news article, and essay, a slideshow, prezi, wiki, annotated timeline, etc) comparing mental health care in the late 1950's to that of today, recommending courses of action for improvements that still need to be made.The Process
-Explore the Mental Health History Timeline, especially noting changes that occurred in the 50 years since McMurphy's death.
Mental Health history:
People with Mental Health were feared and usually kept from other personals.
People with Mental Health were often locked up in asylums to get rid of the "problem" by preforming inhumane actions upon them.
A popular asylum was Danvers State Hospital built in 1878, to house 500. In 1940 it hit it's peak with 2300 patients... needless to say it wasn't the best environment.
The first recorded Lunatic Asylum in Europe was the Bethlem Royal Hospital in London, it has been a part of London since 1247 when it was built as a priory. It became a hospital in 1330 and admitted its first mentally ill patients in 1407.
Asylums were shut down as they opened up about abuse in 1961.
Providing funding for asylums was difficult therefore food for the patients was scarce.
Changes in the last 50 years:
People are more aware and comfortable with the idea of mental health.
Nurses can now make up to 72,000$ a year.
Techniques used on patients are not nearly as gruesome.
Techniques used on patients are not nearly as gruesome.
-Explore the history of one particular hospital through David H. Clark's article, "The Story of a Mental Hospital: Fulbourn, 1858-1983," again, taking particular note of the period between the late 1950's and the present.
History through David H. Clarks article:
Back then there was lack of funds, neglect and low morale, where as today lack in funds is not an issue nor is neglect or low morale.
Exciting new changes include: Unlocking the wards, social therapy, administrative therapy, therapeutic communities, and rehabilitation programs.
History through David H. Clarks article:
Back then there was lack of funds, neglect and low morale, where as today lack in funds is not an issue nor is neglect or low morale.
Exciting new changes include: Unlocking the wards, social therapy, administrative therapy, therapeutic communities, and rehabilitation programs.
-Learn about the practice of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Electroconvulsive therapy:
Given to patients 2-3 times a week, it involves giving the patient seizures and electrically induced (Mania is a common disorder this was used on).
Usually patients we women since they're more at risk to depression then men.
Applied until the patient didn't show any symptoms.
Electroconvulsive therapy:
Given to patients 2-3 times a week, it involves giving the patient seizures and electrically induced (Mania is a common disorder this was used on).
Usually patients we women since they're more at risk to depression then men.
Applied until the patient didn't show any symptoms.
-Learn more about the practice of Lobotomies.
Lobotomies:
Consists of cutting or scrapping into the skull and breaking the connections to and from the frontal lobes of the brain.
It was a mainstream procedure for 2 decades.
Very cruel.
Lobotomies:
Consists of cutting or scrapping into the skull and breaking the connections to and from the frontal lobes of the brain.
It was a mainstream procedure for 2 decades.
Very cruel.
-Read about the practice of Institutionalization, taking special note of changes and/or progress over time.
Institutionalization:
After complaints and speeches were made against the "jail" like institutions, patient count began to fall rapidly due to the amount of deaths.
Institutionalization:
After complaints and speeches were made against the "jail" like institutions, patient count began to fall rapidly due to the amount of deaths.
-Go beyond. Google search terms related to your article (i.e. "mental health," "shock therapy," "electroconvulsive therapy," "lobotomy").
Mental health: a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being.
Shock therapy: treatment of chronic mental conditions by electroconvulsive therapy or by inducing physiological shock.
Electroconvulsive therapy: the administration of a strong electric current that passes through the brain to induce convulsions and coma
Lobotomy: a surgical operation involving incision into the prefrontal lobe of the brain, formerly used to treat mental illness.
Asylum: an institution offering shelter and support to people who are mentally ill.
Patient: a person receiving or registered to receive medical treatment.
-Based upon the information you learn, write 5 - 8 journal entries about experiences a patient might expect to have in a mental institution at any given moment in the last 60 years (make sure you specify the time in each journal entry).
Mental health: a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being.
Shock therapy: treatment of chronic mental conditions by electroconvulsive therapy or by inducing physiological shock.
Electroconvulsive therapy: the administration of a strong electric current that passes through the brain to induce convulsions and coma
Lobotomy: a surgical operation involving incision into the prefrontal lobe of the brain, formerly used to treat mental illness.
Asylum: an institution offering shelter and support to people who are mentally ill.
Patient: a person receiving or registered to receive medical treatment.
-Based upon the information you learn, write 5 - 8 journal entries about experiences a patient might expect to have in a mental institution at any given moment in the last 60 years (make sure you specify the time in each journal entry).
-Using your journals as a basis, create a product (this may be a news article, and essay, a slideshow, prezi, wiki, annotated timeline, etc) comparing mental health care in the late 1950's to that of today, recommending courses of action for improvements that still need to be made. You can find public domain photos for your product at any of the following sites Wellcome Images, EveryStockPhoto, and Pixabay.
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