Ep. 88: Camarillo State Hospital, Part 2 (1958-1997) Artwork

Behind the Walls of the World’s Psychiatric Hospitals

This podcast examines the history of now-defunct or abandoned psychiatric hospitals. Listen every week to learn about the history of mental health care and the true stories of the people who lived and worked behind the walls.

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Behind the Walls of the World’s Psychiatric Hospitals

Ep. 88: Camarillo State Hospital, Part 2 (1958-1997)

May 04, 2025 • Dr. Sarah Gallup • Episode 88

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This week's episode explores the final decades of operation at Camarillo State Hospital. Learn about the introduction of the Developmental Center that separated patients with mental illness and those with developmental disorders. Find out how one patient attempted to escape from the hospital before being stopped. And discover when and why the hospital finally came to a close.

My main source for this episode is the Images of America book on Camarillo State Hospital by Evelyn S. Taylor and Mary E. Holt. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.

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