77. The Controversial Oak Ridge Psychiatric Hospital "When Treatment Turns Into Psychological Torture"

In this week's episode, we are headed to Canada! Hidden in the quiet town of Penetanguishene, Ontario, the Oak Ridge Psychiatric Facility was once home to some of Canada's most dangerous offenders—and some of the country's most controversial psychiatric experiments. What began as an ambitious attempt to rehabilitate violent patients eventually evolved into a series of unconventional treatment programs that continue to spark debate decades later. Former patients have described experiences that ranged from groundbreaking therapy to outright psychological and physical abuse, while supporters argued the hospital was pushing the boundaries of mental health treatment in hopes of finding a cure. In this episode, we explore the history of Oak Ridge, the people behind its radical programs, and how a hospital built to heal became one of the most infamous institutions in Canadian psychiatric history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices