The founder of the Central State Hospital Museum and Seeking Asylum hosted a presentation and book signing July 18 for her new photography book, Seeking Asylum. It depicts the decay and history of Central State Hospital alongside her personal story of mental health.
Georgia’s Old Capital Heritage Center at the Depot first debuted “Seeking Asylum,” the photography exhibit, on Giving Tuesday, November 2022.
Throughout that year, leading up to the exhibit, Whitehead had begun her journey to publish a photography book depicting the present decay and appearance of the Central State Hospital campus.
In 1842, Georgia politicians opened what was known at the time as the State Lunatic, Idiot, and Epileptic Asylum.
The first patient, Tilman Barnett, was admitted to the hospital later that year.
“I often wonder what the first patient, Mr.
Barnett, must have suffered from in today’s terms; schizophrenia, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, or maybe even a traumatic brain injury.
What were the events that led to his institutilization,” wrote Whitehead in the opening of her book.
Barnett was the first of thousands of patients to receive care at the hospital, with a peak of over 13,000 inpatients in the 1960s. With many stories of the hospital scattered around the state, many recount the hospital with varying reactions of grief, sadness, indifference, or even gratitude.
The range of treatments for patients was not solely negative, despite common perceptions, and the hospital played a central role in the development of mental health care today, according to Whitehead.
“My wish is for this book to serve as a beacon of light to those in need of it, and a sobering reality to those who have the power to make a difference in the lives of the mentally ill,” Whitehead wrote. “The photos within these pages serve as a poignant representation of suffering and hope.”
The name of the book, Seeking Asylum, and the former exhibit were chosen because seeking means “attempting to find” and an asylum refers to “an institution offering shelter and support,” according to Whitehead.
For many, Central State Hospital was the place where families sought help for their loved ones or where those suffering sought a safe place or aid.
Before beginning her journey in photography, Whitehead worked in mental health. She held positions at various institutions and worked as a therapist with an emphasis on childhood trauma. During her experience, her mentor was Dr. Greg Jarvie, who had previously worked at Central State Hospital.
“We discussed a lot about mental health treatments and how treatments have changed over the years. And it was shortly after his passing that I picked up photography,” Whitehead said in a past interview with The Baldwin Bulletin.
Fast forward three years and photography has become an outlet for Whitehead to not only aid her own mental health but promote mental health care and awareness to others.
“Photographing Central State Hospital and researching its history, led me on a journey of self-discovery and healing,” said Whitehead.
“I was diagnosed in 2003 with ADHD and a dissociative disorder. Later on, I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Each of these diagnoses gave me an answer to the ‘what’ but a diagnosis does not immediately mean overcoming or healing. Every day is a battle and small things, like photography, can assist in that journey.
“However,” Whitehead paused. “Healing or learning to live with your mental health can only truly occur when you have the resources to professionally deal with them. Not everyone can afford a diagnosis, not everyone can afford therapy, and many live day to day without the resources I was lucky to have. The resources that we have are a good foundation but still have need to grow and develop to provide better care to a wider range of people.”
Whitehead recounted her journey with mental health and her struggles during the presentation of her book and in some of the photographs on display in Allen’s Market.
She emphasized that mental health is not cured in one day and that lack of access to resources is a larger issue across the country.
“Central State Hospital is the story of extremes,” Whitehead read to the audience. “Overcrowding, understaffing, limited resources, and cruelty were issues that faced the hospital in its earliest years. There is also no denying, there has existed within its walls, an unwavering kindness… These two alternating realities are the story of many institutions, both old and new.
“The alternating reality is often the case with mental illness as well… The multifaceted faces of those with the most severe mental diagnoses, juxtaposed to those who are able to function within society with limited care. Unknowingly at first, and without intent, my photography captured this dynamic.”
To learn more about Seeking Asylum or to purchase the book, visit seekingasylumphotography. com.