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Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

Unknown userMember25 Sept 2014, 2:38 pm AEST

Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

Hope that SANE's work to close the Bethlem Sanatorium ride at the Perth show is successful. You'd think that people would understand how offensive something like this is to the many of us living with mental illness as well as our carers http://www.sane.org/news-comment-2014/1346-letter-to-the-royal-agricultural-society-of-wa-close-the-bethlem-sanatorium

10 replies

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In response to: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

NebSenior Contributor26 Sept 2014, 6:14 am AEST

Re: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

Goodness, how extraordinary that such a " show" made it thus far. Yes, it is incredibly offensive, to my mind.

In response to: Re: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

NikNikSenior Contributor26 Sept 2014, 6:51 pm AEST

Re: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

Did anybody see this development today?

Win!

In response to: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

Alessandra1992Senior Contributor29 Sept 2014, 7:39 pm AEST

Re: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

Did the Perth Show close down the exhibit? Hell, you would have to wonder why they just didn't approach a peak consumer group and ask first..

In response to: Re: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

NebSenior Contributor30 Sept 2014, 4:58 am AEST

Re: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

I am a keen video game player, and a recent game called " Bioshock Infinite " which has beautiful graphics has a mildly controversial storyline, a sort of alternate American pre Civil War culture, of slavery etc, the story also has an asylum which is very well done. I am glad my recovery allowed me to play this without being too disturbed, but it is confronting. I wonder if this " attraction" had some similarity to the game? It would have appealed to a younger audience in that case, in my humble opinion.

In response to: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

Alessandra1992Senior Contributor30 Sept 2014, 7:36 pm AEST

Re: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

I visited Aradale Asylum in Victoria and J Ward...sad sad places and lacking much perspective from any of past patients. Volunteer guides keen to sensationalise J Ward, unnecessarily graphic.
I would have liked to see video stories or audio recordings of what it was like from patients view.

In response to: Re: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

NebSenior Contributor30 Sept 2014, 9:19 pm AEST

Re: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

Sandy, I agree with you there, but I would not want to see such a film. Here, where I live, down the road a bit is the notorious Lake Alice sanatorium. I believe it was a mental health institution, but my mind just slides away from any other info. It is rather forlorn to see it mouldering, I guess if I was a photographer it would be a good essay on abandonment....in so many ways!

In response to: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

Alessandra1992Senior Contributor02 Oct 2014, 5:38 pm AEST

Re: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

I think sometimes those old buildings could be used for amazing retreats as the scale of the lands and buildings are very stately.. Also gives them an entirely different energy..
The other point is the first recovery story I learned of was Jean-Baptiste ...who became the superintendent I think of the Paris asylum back in 1680's I think. It is told on mad history on YouTube..and taught in Uni nowadays.. Jean-baptiste was an inmate..so even back then, recovery was happening...

In response to: Re: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

NebSenior Contributor02 Oct 2014, 10:58 pm AEST

Re: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

I am a fan of Georgette Heyer's regency books. The man of fashion that was a trend leader was Brummell, I read a fascinating biography of him. He died in France after falling from grace ( he insulted Prinny and had enormous betting debts). He was in a Catholic sanitarium with tertiary syphillis, and the conditions were very humane which surprised me. This was in the 1800 s.

In response to: Re: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

kristinSenior Contributor05 Oct 2014, 6:52 am AEDT

Re: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

Great news they changed it!

Horrible some of the ignorant online comments posted with the article about the change. Heartening seeing the supportive ones though!

Cheers, K

In response to: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

kristinSenior Contributor05 Oct 2014, 6:59 am AEDT

Re: Perth Show's Bedlam Sanatorium is a ride that needs to end

Thx brandnewday for bringing this up on the forum! Otherwise I would have missed it.

BTW welcome to the forum.

Well done to SANE and other organisations who put pressuure on the RAS, and full credit to the RAS for listening and responding swiftly and appropriately. I agree that putting it on in the first place is a worry, but it has hopefully served a public education purpose. One of those necessary conversations about MI, out in the public arena. It is good to see.

Cheers,

Kristin

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