A Place for Lost Souls: A psychiatric nurse's stories of hope and despair

by Belinda Black, Rose Akroyd (Narrator)

A young psychiatric nurse recalls her eye-opening experiences at one of Britain's secure mental hospitals during the 1980s.

'Ultimately, my experiences as a mental health nurse have taught me that we should judge less and open our hearts more.'

Belinda Black was just seventeen years old when she began working as a nursing assistant at the large and foreboding 'madhouse', as it was then known to the villagers of her hometown in the north of England. Following in the footsteps of her mother, she went on to spend a decade caring for patients with widely varying mental health problems, all locked up together and out of view of society. They

Olek - a haunted, diminished and damaged survivor of a Nazi concentration camp

Orla - whose peaceful demeanour and lovely smile hid a determination to kill herself

Agatha - an extremely violent paranoid schizophrenic with a wonderful sense of humour

Warren - who stabbed a person to death after he was let out.

But A Place for Lost Souls is also about the other psychiatric nurses there, from those like Sister Kane who suffered from depression and found treating others a welcome distraction, to others like Belinda's friend Sally, who always had a sense of humour however dark the situation.

Together, against a backdrop of rattling keys, clanging iron doors, and wards that smelled of disinfectant and stale smoke, these people came together to get through another day. Until the hospital, along with many others, had its doors closed in 1991 - the biggest change to mental healthcare in NHS history.

The result is a moving, shocking but ultimately life-affirming account of a unique and noble profession, told from the frontlines. Amongst so much sadness and distress, and despite witnessing some of the darkest corners of human suffering, Belinda finds in the camaraderie of her colleagues, in the patients she cares for, and in her unwavering belief that even people who have committed violent crimes are fundamentally good.

Genres: Memoir

Audible Audio

Published June 22, 2023

Reviews

[Ken Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

[14 Oct 2024] This small book is a well told account of the author's career as a Psychiatric Nurse in the 1980s onwards. She describes the self-contained world of the large mental asylum and the institutional care that was received by large number of people with ill-defined conditions and virtually no treatment plans, apart from segregation and ever increasing doses of major tranquillisers. The bizarre and scary world of the mentally ill before effective treatment is well told. The patients were often damaged by their circumstances and frankly, and no less sad, the thoughts and actions of the staff were likewise. The obsessive purposeless rules, the rigid routines, the poverty of expectation are all evident. Even in the 1980s this type of asylum care was nearing its end. I trained at around the same time as the author, but in a large psychiatric unit in a general hospital, never wore a uniform, never on a locked ward, and was taught an absolute belief that Nurses were change-agents, able to apply a variety of assessed, planned and delivered focused care and implement a number of effective psychological treatments.

It is an excellent description of institutional psychiatric care at the end of an era. The care, compassion and friendship comes across and for many the ward became the family although, of course, it should not have done. A very interesting, informative, well written book about a form of belief and a type of care, which has now hopefully faded into history.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had wanted to enjoy this book as the author and I shared the experience of training and working in a large mental hospital in the 1980s. Although some of the ‘tales’ were familiar I did not recognise the very poor practices happening where I worked. I’d suggest dismissal would have occurred not just now but also back then too.

[josie w · Rating 5 out of 5]

i believe my favourite book to date, this has started the trend for me in reading medical memoirs; with stories from before, during, and after the shutting of the uk asylums, it proves a valuable memoir.

firstly, it’s done in good taste and is not exploitative. the patients are anonymous and don’t feel made fun of; and the stories, although some definitely shocking, don’t feel like they’re done for shock factor.

another thing that’s great about this book is the reflections made after each story or point on the practice at the time. she talks about was wrong about the old practices, but also about what we could bring more of into modern practices.

i’ve given 2 copies away of this book away, one to a retired nurse who worked in an asylum, and one to a student mental health nurse. both of whom enjoyed it.

[Rachel Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring memoir of a nurse who has experienced UK's shift from the asylum to the Care in the Community (patients receiving care in their homes / care homes / smaller psychiatric units) system. Although I don't quite agree with her opposition to the latter, I do agree with the values and she advocates, such as genuine concern and compassion for patients' well-being (eg. concern about putting teens in adult psychiatric wards, building therapeutic relationships with patients with music / dance) and being non-judgemental and empathetic. The book also sheds light on the mental health of nurses from the pain, suffering, and misery they witness -- 20% of nurses have substance abuse disorders, and there was a case of depression and suicide in the memoir -- calling for self-care and self-compassion.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A challenging yet enjoyable look at the life of a psychiatric nurse as she begins her career in a time of changes to the way mentally ill patients are cared for in the UK.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was easy to listen to, with a soft northern accent which I imagine is akin to the author herself. She discusses memorable patients and how different nursing was throughout the 70s and 80s to how it is today. There are some very interesting stories and other parts where the author discusses her own thoughts about the treatment of her patients. She reflects on how own mistakes and how practices have adapted through the years.

Recommended for readers of this genre - a good mix of history and autobiographical work.

[Laura Madej · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so beautifully written as in the sense how much of An incredible person Belinda Black is . Thank you for being such a great help and making a positive difference to everyone’s lives. I teared up several times throughout this book . But i sincerely thank you for producing such a spectacle view upon what it was like years ago working in the mental health industry. You really are a figure being i will upon throughout trying to become a Psychiatrist a long 14 years but i believe i have the dedication , compassion and Empathy to help as much people as i can. Yet again i incredibly thank you.

[Christine T Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

I worked in health and social care for 40 years, mostly with people wi
th learning disabilities. So many of the stories resonated with me. I too started my career in a huge institutional setting. I was woefully inadequate and very immature to start with. Still the many happy, sad and occasionally hair raising happenings have had a massive part in shaping who I am today
I would love this book to be read by care providers at every level. I hope it will inspire some people to try to make a difference by caring for the vulnerable people in society

[Charlene Perris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

Congratulations Belinda on sharing such poignant and touching stories that gave a really valuable, engaging and interesting insight into life in asylums. Your care, kindness, love and compassion for your patients jumped off every page and I could have read volumes and volumes more of your tales! Be proud of the great job you clearly did across your career and the people you talked about will remain in my mind for a long time.

[Laura Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a brilliantly honest read from someone with vast experience who clearly did a job that not all of us could because she cared! I laughed, cried and everything in between. People like Belinda should be employed to help make decisions for people that can't for themselves, thank you Belinda for a great book with a whole lot of life lessons!

[Chloe Humphries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Belinda Black has such a wonderful way of writing. The way she tells her story makes it feel like you’re having a long catch up with a friend who you haven’t seen in years. I got emotional when I finished. This book really highlights the beauty, alongside the tragedy, of working in the mental health sector.

[Christine Sampson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had wanted to enjoy this book as the author and I shared the experience of training and working in a large mental hospital in the 1980s. Although some of the ‘tales’ were familiar I did not recognise the very poor practices happening where I worked. I’d suggest dismissal would have occurred not just now but also back then too.

[Fiona Turnbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

My book was 290 pages Goodreads getting it wrong again. Highly recommend this book. Having worked in a similar sector it was a laugh a minute . Understanding that a hospital can be a community.

[Sophy Evelynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book- such a great insight into the way the landscape of mental health hospitals have changed and not seemingly for the better in the NHS.

[Rachel Pitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Very interesting read.

[Chloe Bagnall · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Eleanor Gravestock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it in one sitting!

[Olivia Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few medical books, but this is the first to discuss mental health. I felt that this book provided me with an insight into how mental health care has changed over the years as well as the variety of mental health conditions.