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The Locked Ward: The Memoir of a Psychiatric Orderly
In 2000 Dennis O'Donnell was approached to work as an orderly in the Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit of a large hospital in central Scotland. "I don't know if I'm the man you want," he told the charge nurse. "I'm not a fighter." "I don't need fighters," the nurse replied. "I need people who can listen." The Locked Ward is an extraordinary memoir that sets out to reveal the...more
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published
January 1st 2012
by Random House UK
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A friend recommended this book to me. I was sceptical at first, as I previously had no particular awareness or interest in psychiatric care or mental health issues and thought that it would be a book for those in the profession.
I quickly found that inside knowledge was not necessary and that it was actually a compassionate but very humorous read about folk; those who care and those who are cared for, some who are mad and some less so. The author provides insightful accounts of patients and their...more
I quickly found that inside knowledge was not necessary and that it was actually a compassionate but very humorous read about folk; those who care and those who are cared for, some who are mad and some less so. The author provides insightful accounts of patients and their...more
Really well written memoir recounting the experiences of a mental health nurse. As you'd expect, there's sadness, tragedy and fear, but this is a book suffused with such wonderful wit and humour, one gets the feeling this is one of the most honest reflections you could get of working in this profession.
There's a little on the clinical side of mental illness for the uninformed reader, but more important I think is the real insight into what living with a serious mental illness actually feels like...more
There's a little on the clinical side of mental illness for the uninformed reader, but more important I think is the real insight into what living with a serious mental illness actually feels like...more
This really mixes humour with the sadness and fear felt by patients with mental illnesses. I laughed and cried. I don't know a lot about mental illness but learned and understood so much from each "character". I have recommended this book to lots of friends who have also really enjoyed it!
i did not not really enjoy this book i have worked for many years in the mental health service ad my views of the progression of the mental health service dffered just too much from the author,s to enjoy the book
It felt a little like trying not to look at a car crash reading this book at times but I can tell that the humour, tolerance and understanding of the author would have made him the perfect nurse in this setting. I chose to read this book because I'd like to understand some of the conditions discussed here better. Although it was lighthearted and not clinical, I did feel I came away with increased understanding and some terrible jokes....
Funny, endearing, heartbreaking insight into a multitude of mental illnesses and those who suffer from them.
Great book, really enjoyed it.
I used to work in a similar place, I laughed, I almost cried...this book resonated with me.
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