Building 51

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In Building 51, retired clinical psychologist Elbert W. Russell provides a firsthand account of the state of mental hospitals before the introduction of antipsychotic drugs as well as during the start of the transition to medications. Offering a candid look behind closed doors of a bygone era and transitional period in mental health, Russell describes the condition of the mental ward of Building 51 of Norristown State Hospital along with its staff and patients. Reflecting on his personal experiences and memories, Russell provides mental health professionals with a unique narrative for understanding the history of mental health treatment. While his recollections prove how far we've come in treating mental illness, they also highlight the need for a better understanding of mental hospitals and the mentally ill. Both empathetic and raw, Building 51 is a moving memoir that opens our eyes to the dire need to eradicate the stigma of mental illness.