The South Carolina State Hospital: Stories from Bull Street (Landmarks)

I really enjoyed this book. I worked at the SC State Hospital from 1991 until 2001. I was first a Mental Health Specialist and then a Registered Nurse. The State Hospital assisted in our nursing education financially and by allowing us to continue to receive our full pay while working reduced hours. I worked with some of the interviewees. Coworker became family while working there. We also became the only family that our patients had. At first, I corrected them when they referred to me as the brother, cousin, or grandson. Then, I realized that it gave them comfort knowing that someone cared for them and wanted to help them. They saw us a brothers, sister, parents, cousins, and grandparents. We were a constant in their lives and isn't that what family is? The Hospital was like a little city within a city. It was an asylum from the dangers of the outside world. I was saddened by the closing, and not just because aIr loved working with the wonderful family of staff and patients, but I think think the institution is still needed to aid in the safe recovery of some of our most vulnerable citizens. The book we as awesome!!!

I have heard horror stories about this hospital all of my life. This wonderfully written book helped me to see that not everything I have heard is true. My husband's grandmother passed away in this hospital in the 90's. She kept her eyes closed so tightly that they grew shut. Having read this book, I now wonder what she may have seen for her to have kept her eyes so tightly closed. I would love to see a sequel to this book to find out more of what really went on with the patients care as told by former employee's. This is one of those books that you can't lay down. If you're from South Carolina, you need to read this book. God Bless, and watch over our mentality ill.

The book was very small and only a collection of a few employees memories. It was not a factual book about the actual things that was done to patients while in the asylum.

Growing up in South Carolina, you always heard about “Bull Street”. Now, I live in Columbia and drive by the mess of the construction and see the mentally ill and homeless on the streets walking around their old home. Incredibly well written and captivating. Your heart breaks for the plight of the mentally ill left without help. There has never been a perfect solution, but now there is no solution.

This book was special to me as I’m from South Carolina. I’ve always heard bad things about Bull Street obviously from people who didn’t know. This book sheds a different light on the patients and the care they received. We definitely need a mental health hospital. So many people need help.

I got this book as soon as it came out. Being into genealogy, I have an interest in the history of such places where some relatives ended up. I found this an interesting read and I appreciate the book. Thank you to all the people who responsibly and lovingly ministered to people who could not take care of themselves and who could, generally, do nothing in return for the help. God knows who you are and rewards accordingly. This is not a salacious book. But an interesting book.

Stories from Bull Street is a compilation of interviews with several former employees of the South Carolina State Hospital, including 1 patient, and 1 person who was both employee and patient at different times in their life. The book presents the stories in a well-written manner, and includes some humor in what might otherwise be an extremely bleak topic. The author refrains from too much editorializing, letting each story shine on its own merits.In addition, the author, who is an accomplished photographer, includes some photos from his archives as part of the book.It was pretty incredible to read about these people. The selflessness and care that most of them brought to their difficult jobs is astonishing. Kudos to this book for highlighting their good work.

Having worked in an agency which provided outpatient mental health and substance abuse counseling, including a diagnosis from a psychiatrist and proper medication , I can attest to the need for more of these types of services . It is much less expensive for a patient and less disruptive to their family for them to eat and sleep at home while attending their program during the day. Very motivated and committed patients did quite well . The old school thinking of locking up the mentally ill, sometimes for months , in a ward with locked doors, a prison type feeing, and heavy doses of medication kept them under control but did little to really help them get better. Antipsychotic drugs and a diagnosis from a psychiatrist, combined with regular visits to a mental health counselor are much more effective and humane . There are some patients who need to be inside a facility and who will never be discahrged but the majority of patients can function independently with regular professional support