1 Comments Posted by Dr.D.

wrote:
These are porches for smoking...a very common activity among the mentally ill who are hospitalized long term. Having porches for this reason theoretically kept patients from smoking in the wards or in bed. Keep in mind that when these hospitals were built, the common thinking was that "these people" (as Giovanna called them) were not supposed to have freedom. Unfortunately, that belief persists today as I can see from many of these posts. To be "freaked out" by people you have never met is very immature indeed. I hate to break it to you but practically everyone who has posted here very likely knows someone with a mental illness, whether or not that person has admitted it to you.

Beautiful work, Motts. Sign me up for a copy of your book when it's published.