Change Your Image
ejehaley
Reviews
Smallville: Asylum (2004)
Psychiatric hospitalization sensationalism
Overall, interesting episode. It was a great idea to have Clark re-encounter three former classmate-villains from seasons 1 and 2. My main critique is with ho Belle Reeve is portrayed. I worked at a state psychiatric hospital for 10 years, and this episode sensationalizes mental illness and psych hospitals and promotes the stigma against mental illness. Hospitals-
* are well-lit and use bright, pleasant colors
* do often have beds attached to the floor, but they're cots with mattresses, pillows, and blankets
* allow patients to wear their own clothes, within reason
* do not look like jails with metal toilets
* do not have walls of windows looking into patient rooms
* do not use batons, metal cages, padded rooms, and straitjackets anymore, and haven't for a long time
* do not allow ROCKS or other weapons on-site
* have opportunities to engage in arts and leisure activities, but not in public places
* maintain patient confidentiality by having visitors only visit in specific places, not on the units
* do not have patient fights on a regular basis, as people with mental illnesses are no more violent than the rest of society
I have this same critique for other episodes of this show. I look forward to the day that TV and movies portray people with mental illnesses accurately and respectfully.