Jessica Whitehead, founder of Seeking Asylum LLC., is actively working to preserve the history of Central State Hospital (CHS) and be an advocate for those with mental health issues.
Whitehead worked in the mental health industry for 13 years before moving on to work in Baldwin County’s Juvenile and then Superior court. Whiteheads’s late mentor was the late Dr. Greg Jarvie, who worked at Central State Hospital. The pair used to talk about the state of mental health treatment and its progression over time. Jarvie and Whitehead had planned to walk the grounds of Central State Hospital together, but he passed before they could make that hope a reality.
“He passed away last year. We had planned for him to give a tour of Central State Hospital and for me to take one of my classes from GMC, where I used to teach, out there to teach about the history but we were unable to do it,” said Whitehead. “So, after he passed, I decided to learn more about Central State Hospital and see how I could contribute to the preservation of its history.” As part of his memory and the desire to still work toward their goal of mental health education and advocacy, Whitehead began looking into Central State Hospital’s history. After learning that the museum, owned by Georgia’s Old Capital Heritage Center at the Depot, Inc. (GOCHC), was moved and needed money for renovations, Whitehead approached the Central State Hospital Local Redevelopment Authority and GOCHC to offer her assistance.
“I approached Walter Reynolds about documenting possible prison art that I had heard about and taking photos of the buildings to preserve their present state with the hopes of making a coffee table book for which part of the proceeds could go towards the renovations of the Depot,” said Whitehead.
Through close work with the Redevelopment Authority, Whitehead captured still-moments of decay around the CSH campus inside and outside the various buildings owned by the Redevelopment Authority. Her gallery of photos would be named Seeking Asylum and would go beyond her expectations in assisting her overall goal.
“After connecting with the Redevelopment Authority, I met with Amy Wright, executive director of GOCHC, about the museum and how I could assist them,” said Whitehead. “In November, they hosted my gallery at The Just Imagine Cottage and since then, I have been working closely with Georgia’s Old Capital Heritage Center at the Depot to assist with their fundraising efforts for the Heritage Center.”
Whitehead became a member of the GOCHC board of trustees and is using her company to assist with fundraising events for The Depot Project. The Depot Project is an ongoing restoration to turn the building into an interactive museum called the heritage center.
The Depot is a part of CSH campus and would include a CSH exhibit once opened.
“I sell prints and take my gallery to events for fundraising efforts,” said Whitehead. “In any way Seeking Asylum can help, I strive to make an effort.”
Since her gallery’s debut, it has been displayed at various events and found its home in February at Suite 13 inside the W.H.
Smith Building at 118 S.
Wilkinson St.
“This project has unexpectedly and graciously become bigger than I expected it to be. I began this journey learning how to take photos and capture a still of Central State Hospital but now I am using these photos to teach about the history, fundraise for a museum that will preserve its history, and open discussion about mental health,” said Whitehead.
“I wanted to capture the inside and the outside of the campus because, even in disrepair, there is a beauty to the campus and a hope for its future as the Redevelopment Authority tries to preserve the buildings and repurpose them.” Whitehead’s favorite photo in her gallery is of the morgue. The photo has an eerie feeling from its darkened appearance and the building’s purpose but a certain beauty for the lush vines overtaking the building and the white, cloudy backdrop shining light upon the caving roof and chapel.
“I feel that this picture resonates with the stigma of mental health today.
I often must point out the hole in the roof to onlookers or it goes unnoticed. And while that hole may be seen as something negative, I show my audience the pictures of the vultures perched in the window who have chosen this overgrown building as the perfect environment to nest and raise their young,” said Whitehead. “Mental health often goes unnoticed and can be treated with a negative perception just like the hole in the roof. But that hole allows a vulture to nest and make a family. Suffering from mental health issues does not prevent a heart from growing and maturing inside a person.”
By opening discussion about mental health and how it’s been treated throughout time, Whitehead hopes she can bring awareness to the stigma and elevate the need for better approaches and treatment in mental health care.
“Mental health institutions of today do not have the resources to give the care that is needed for their clients and patients, despite their best efforts. There is also a larger problem with how people are treated based on diagnosis or concerns for their mental health,” said Whitehead. “People shouldn’t have to be wary of seeking help and I think it’s important for people to see where we started, where we are, and how much farther we can go to improve the industry and these negative stigmas.”
Seeking Asylum is open to the public on Saturdays from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. on days the Central State Hospital Trolly Tour runs, or by appointment at the W.H. Smith Building. To schedule an appointment, contact seeking.asylum.