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PAGE 30, WHiTBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18,1989 Psychiatric hospital celebrates 70th year By Trudie Zavadovies Since its establishment in 1913, Whitby Psychiatric Hospi- tal has built and maintained a standard of care and shelter for its patients that serves as a model for many such institutions today. On Monday, Oct. 23 the hospi- tal proudly celebrtes 70 years as a pioneer and frontrunner in mental health care, a role that may again be taken as changes are made in the hospital's catch- ment area in the next 10 years. It was on Oct. 23, 1919 that the first patients were admitted to what was then called Ontario Hospital Whitby. In 1916, the building was used as a convales- cent home for wounded war veterans. From the very beginning it was evident that Dr. J.M. Fors- ter, who conceived, constructed and ran the hospital, wanted only the best for his patients and was prepared to settle for no less. In 1927 Dr. Edward Ryan, director of medical services of Ontario hospitals, said of Dr. Forster: "No man in the Ontario service has given to psychiatry higher ideals than those rendered by Dr. Forster. Whitby was concei- ved by Dr. Forster, constructed by Dr. Forster, administered by Dr. Forster; it is his monument. As a psychiatrist, Dr. Forster has no peer in this province. His quiet gentlemanly bearing, his warm friendship, his fidelity to friend and principle; these have been an encouragement, a solace, an inspiration." Dr. Forster visited psychiatric hospitals around the world, lear- ned by their achievments and their mistakes. He combined this knowledge with his own ideas and built an ideal facility. He was quoted at the time as stating, "The Province of Ontario now has one of the most modern hospitals for the treatment of mental diseases." From the beginning, it would seem, the emphasis has been to deinstitutionalize mental health care and change attitudes towards mental diseases. Dr. Forster was steadfast in the mission to deinstitutionalize, which is evident in the cottage style construction of Whitby Psy- chiatric Hospital. He used about 100 prisoners from Central Prison Fam in Guelph to build the hospital. First built was a temporary camp, with dining rooms on site to house prisoners, guards and foremen. This proved to be a more hospitable atmosphere for prisoners. The 640-acre lakeshore pro- perty was purchased by the pro- vincial government for $128,000. The Province took possession April 1, 1912, and construction began April 29. It was a unique design of cottages and hospitals which separated the patients·requiring constant medical attention from patients merely requiring medi- cal supervision or personal hygiene. E ach hospitai and cottage group had a centrai kitchen with separate dining room, and each cottage functioned independently from the rest of the facility. James Govan wvas the primar4 architect with F.R. R4eake, George 14. Williams, Govan Fer- guson Lindsay, Jackson YpeL and Associates and D.G. Creba, all provincial or related employees, contributing to the architecture. Dr. Forster did his utmost to provide top quality therapeutic care and provide a warm, plea- sant atmosphere for his patients. In the Toronto Telegram, Sept 21, 1920, Dr. Forster states: "We endeavor to keep the hospital free from al] sugestion of a place of detention. The wards are so arranged that it is impossible for a nurse or attendant to get out of hearing of a patient's voice." The following, taken from the hospital's 1989 annual report chronicles the hospital's medical and physical evolution: "From Dr. Forster's report we read, "Provisions for carrying out the best ideas for psychiatry have had careful attention and special arrangements for con- tinuous baths and other hydro- therapeutic measures, electro therapy, hot air baths, message, special rest rooms and hygenie diet have been made." " Special studies were carried out, so that during winter every room for patients had direct sunlight at some period of the day. The Admission Hospital, the Acute Hospital, and the Isolation Hospital all provided. for medical research work, both clinically and in laboratories. Each had lecture rooms for demonstrations and training staff. At aþout this time, public opinion was stirred by the new scientific approach to mental ill- ness, and the press took over the fight for new legislation, demanding immediate reforms and improvements in existing conditions in Ontario hospitals. Whitby Hospital, as an 'open' institution, was seen as a role model. By 1925 the officiai capacity of the hospital was 1,542, and every available space was occupied. Dr. Forster reported that 16 per cent SEE PAGE 31 MALE nurses choir at Whitby Psychiatrie Hospital, 1939. Whitb~y Archives photo A BACKWARDS LOOK AHEAD Nurses' role is vague but vital By Trudie Zavadovics Whitby Psychiatrie Hospital has weathered much over the past 70 years. It has evolved from an asylum to a hospital; attitudes, once barbarie, now show compassion; independence and dignity today are the right of the mentally ill. The pulse and the backbone of the hospital undoubtedly lie in the caregivers, the nurses, who were there through all the changes and the challenges, who did the meaningul and the menial -- both wit commitment and conviction. Lyla Allen graduated from the nursing school at Whitby in 1961 and, for the most part, has wor- ked there ever since. Today she is associate director of nursing services, which sees 326 nurses for 360 patients. She has both seen and effected change. "In World War II, the nurse's role was to look after the patient. They fed them, dressed them, and made all their decisions. Here we are in the '80s trying to undo this." Allen sees this as a positive evolution that was a long time coming. "The first patients came Oct. CONSTRUCTION of the new school of nursing in 1961. .Helping out was 23, 1919. There were five nurses and 50 patients. The nurses lived on the grounds and did 12-hour shifts. The superintendent and the rest of the staff didn't arrive until Jan 20, 1920 -- some three months later." This illustrates the historical role of the nurse -- vague but vital. "The nurse in the early days did everything," says Allen. "Pas- toral services didn't come till the '40s, social services after that and often there was one doctor for the whole hospital. "In the beginning basically, we just mothered everybody, looked after people as children; that's how they were perceived at the time. Fortunately, today, patients have a lot more say. There's been a whole change in attitude toward mental illness, especially over the last 25 years. Today patients have choices." Another change over the years involves the comings and goings of the patients. "Patients could get into mental hospitals very easily," says Allen. "Today it is harder.' Before, a pregnant single girl might be sent to a mental insti- tution. It might have been the same for an elderly person whos-e Mathew Iymond (right), then Minister of Health. family wants to gain power of attorney. The problem was not getting in. Getting out, however, proved more difficult. "Before World War II, patients probably died here, or escaped," says Allen. "Especially if the family was poor and didn't have much influence." Allen recalls a story of a mother who was admitted to the hospital when her twins were two or three years old. They were told their mother had died. Some 20 years later she was still alive and well and living at Whitby Ps ych. Today the hospital has an open concept to visitors. Years ago visitors were allowed the first Sunday of every month and nurses busily readied patients for their guests. They dressed them in their Sunday best, and, according to Allen, the hospital, too, was on its best behavior. During the Depression the hos- pital really thrived. It was around that time that it was decided that patients could con- tribute, that they could really do something. "Male patients worked on the farm," says Allen. "They mowed lawns,and milked cows while women did laundry and house- .ceeping. "During the Depression we survived while others were going hungr. Wth the S5s came civil rights and questions were raised as to whether patients should be doing such chores. It was argued that .uch work was therapeutic and contributed to the patient's sense of independence and well being. But by the '60s they stopped helping around the hospital. "They regressed back to doing nothng." "Today patients are taught life skills," says Lyla. "The major difference is that they are now the primary person in the care they receive. e patient identi- fies the problems and what can be done. Nurses are then obliga- ted to supply services to alleviate those problems. It's terrible the way they used to be treated but it went along with the general attitude of the public." She says that today, many still prefer to forget that "this south- ern 700 acres of Ontario exists. "We employ almost 1,000 people in the community. That is not often recognized." She says that the stereotype irma that nurses are the "wee folk that goes behind and does the doctor's bidding" to some Whitbv Archives photo ' ' ' A