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{ "item_title" : "The Lives They Left Behind", "item_author" : [" Darby Penney", "Peter Stastny", "Lisa Rinzler "], "item_description" : "The acclaimed portrait of institutionalized patients whose abandoned possessions recall their forgotten livesA deeply moving testament to the human side of mental illness. -Oliver SacksWhen Willard State Hospital closed its doors in 1995, after operating as one of New York State's largest mental institutions for over 120 years, a forgotten attic filled with suitcases belonging to former patients was discovered. Using the possessions found in these suitcases along with institutional records and doctors' notes from patient sessions, Darby Penney, a leading advocate of patients' rights, and Peter Stastny, a psychiatrist and documentary filmmaker, were able to reconstruct the lives of ten patients who resided at Willard during the first half of the twentieth century. The Lives They Left Behind tells their story. In addition to these human portraits, the book contains over 100 photographs as well as valuable historical background on how this state-funded institution operated. As it restores the humanity of the individuals it so poignantly evokes, The Lives They Left Behind reveals the vast historical inadequacies of a psychiatric system that has yet to heal itself.", "item_img_path" : "https://covers4.booksamillion.com/covers/bam/1/93/413/714/1934137146_b.jpg", "price_data" : { "retail_price" : "16.99", "online_price" : "16.99", "our_price" : "16.99", "club_price" : "16.99", "savings_pct" : "0", "savings_amt" : "0.00", "club_savings_pct" : "0", "club_savings_amt" : "0.00", "discount_pct" : "10", "store_price" : "" } }
The Lives They Left Behind|Darby Penney
The Lives They Left Behind : Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic
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Overview

The acclaimed portrait of institutionalized patients whose abandoned possessions recall their forgotten lives

"A deeply moving testament to the human side of mental illness." -Oliver Sacks

When Willard State Hospital closed its doors in 1995, after operating as one of New York State's largest mental institutions for over 120 years, a forgotten attic filled with suitcases belonging to former patients was discovered. Using the possessions found in these suitcases along with institutional records and doctors' notes from patient sessions, Darby Penney, a leading advocate of patients' rights, and Peter Stastny, a psychiatrist and documentary filmmaker, were able to reconstruct the lives of ten patients who resided at Willard during the first half of the twentieth century.

The Lives They Left Behind tells their story. In addition to these human portraits, the book contains over 100 photographs as well as valuable historical background on how this state-funded institution operated. As it restores the humanity of the individuals it so poignantly evokes, The Lives They Left Behind reveals the vast historical inadequacies of a psychiatric system that has yet to heal itself.

Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781934137147
  • ISBN-10: 1934137146
  • Publisher: Bellevue Literary Press
  • Publish Date: January 2009
  • Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 0.7 pounds
  • Page Count: 208

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