So they hire somebody to guard an abandoned building while they watch it deteriorate until it is finally demolished, right?

MOTTS----YOU HAVE TO OPEN YOUR OWN ART GALLERY!!!!!!!! PEOPLE WOULD PAY TO SEE THSES BEAUTIFUL PICTURES!!!! EVEN IF THEY'RE PUT IN A BOOK; I KNOW I WOULD BUY IT!

It's really a shame they can't save, at least this area. It is so beautiful!

Fantastic and beautiful photo! But a STRANGE looking balcony. No railing?

So what happened to all these people who were DUMPED on the streets?

Very, very fantastic shot!! My mouth literally fell open!

I agree with woodwytch, it would be like being in prison for 50 years and suddenly being left out. How would you cope? Imagine all that's changed around you? That must be very frightening.

This may seem "wonderful" but I couldn't imagine being behind that door.

Lovely comment bk.

I couldn't even imagine getting lost in a place like this! As far as everyone elses comments; we have come a long way treating mental illness; since the early or even middle 1900's. And the mind is still very complicated to understand, even today. I'm sure, that many years ago, they did the best they could with what know-how they had. They REALLY didn't know how to treat the mentally disturbed; imagine having a handi-capped child and you alone would have that responsibility and no one would know what to do? I'm sure it was very fraustrating. But I DO know people got sent away back then for any reason, not just having some mental disorder. When I was young, Iused to be terrified because whenever I mis-behaved my mom would say she'd send me away to a home. You know, I never forgot that. I also have suffered from depression for the last 15 years and alot of people have said to me that I don't need to take medication; that I could control it. It's not that you WANT to feel that way and you CAN'T always control it. I thank God they have medicine out there now that CAN help people! Imagine what they went through without any decent medication or medical help to support them.

When they abandon these buildings, are all the doors and everything left open like that?

Imagine if you were a nurse and you'd go back to see this?

I guess all of these places used lead-based paint and asbestos. Is that why they don't want to ever use them again and they just let them sit and deteriorate?

Wow! What a nice, MODERN, room!

Almost looks like I could "walk" into this picture.

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. Psalm 118 : 6

How long wre they ususally kept in seclusion like this? Did they REALLY think that would make them a better person?

This shows the real anger, hopelessness, and fraustration alot of them probably went through.

That would be enough to make anybody crazy.

It looks like demons inside her trying to get out!

Ladyhawke, I am struck by your amazing way with words. Very, very heart-wrenching. You should be an author.

I AM GOING TO OVERCOME THIS!!!!

This looks like total fraustration.

Alone, afraid, rejected.

"Coast is clear! I know there's a way out of here!"