Utah State Hospital
Encyclopedia
The Utah State Hospital (USH) is a mental hospital
located in Provo, Utah
, United States of America. The current Superintendent is Dallas Earnshaw.
Today the Utah State Hospital provides 324 beds for Utah's mentally ill citizens who require treatment in a more structured setting and are assessed to be unable to receive adequate treatment at regional centers. Treatment is provided to patients ranging from age six years to geriatric age. Specialized programs are offered for children, adolescents, forensic and adult residents.
All proceeds from the Haunted Castle went into the Utah State Hospital's recreational therapy program to subsidize improved activities that directly benefited the patients.
October of 1997 was the final production put on by the State Hospital. The activity was permanently closed in an act of "Political Correctness" largely due to efforts by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill who objected to the activity because they felt it served to stereotype the patients by linking mental illness with monsters and violence in the public's mind. Several Doctors, Therapists, and Patients at the Utah State Hospital cited that the activity produced therapeutic results unachievable elsewhere which should be taken into account, but the Utah State Legislature determined that NAMI's objections were warranted.
Mental Hospital
Mental hospital may refer to:*Psychiatric hospital*hospital in Nepal named Mental Hospital...
located in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
, United States of America. The current Superintendent is Dallas Earnshaw.
History
The Utah State Hospital began as the Territorial Insane Asylum in 1885 at Provo, Utah, with the purpose of housing and treating those considered to be mentally ill and attempt to return them to normal levels of functioning. The site chosen in Provo was eight blocks from the nearest residence and was separated from the city by swampland and the city dump.Today the Utah State Hospital provides 324 beds for Utah's mentally ill citizens who require treatment in a more structured setting and are assessed to be unable to receive adequate treatment at regional centers. Treatment is provided to patients ranging from age six years to geriatric age. Specialized programs are offered for children, adolescents, forensic and adult residents.
Haunted Castle
Starting October 1971 the Utah State Hospital started a "spook alley" titled the Haunted Castle, due to the stone structured amphitheater in which the attraction was assembled. The Haunted Castle started off as a "closed" Halloween celebration event developed by the patients, but success with the activity eventually caused it to grow to a more public performance. The attraction was operated in a joint effort by patients and staff. Patient participation was a privilege and based on individual patient behavior and only those determined to be a minimal risk to themselves or others were allowed access to the public. Additionally many patients not able to interact with the public were allowed to help with construction/deconstruction of the facilities used for the spook alley. The Utah State Hospital used popularity from the event help raise public awareness of mental illness.All proceeds from the Haunted Castle went into the Utah State Hospital's recreational therapy program to subsidize improved activities that directly benefited the patients.
October of 1997 was the final production put on by the State Hospital. The activity was permanently closed in an act of "Political Correctness" largely due to efforts by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill who objected to the activity because they felt it served to stereotype the patients by linking mental illness with monsters and violence in the public's mind. Several Doctors, Therapists, and Patients at the Utah State Hospital cited that the activity produced therapeutic results unachievable elsewhere which should be taken into account, but the Utah State Legislature determined that NAMI's objections were warranted.