WestWood Mental Institute

Scary House > Stories > WestWood Mental Institute

Step into the year 1896, where the WestWood Mental Institute stands tall and imposing, nestled in a small town just outside of Pennsylvania, known as Byberry. Here, the walls of the asylum witness the tragic stories of those deemed unfit for society's understanding.

In a time when the intricacies of the human mind still elude society, psychologists are shunned as "Alienists". Their unconventional methods, lacking recognition from the medical community, render them outcasts. Their attempts to unravel the mysteries of the mind manifest in a place like WestWood, where the wealthy inhabitants of New York's elite turn for assistance.

For over a century, the institute has occupied its hallowed corridors, seemingly weathered by time itself. Its reputation as a sanctuary for troubled souls has remained intact, but within its ageing walls lies a darker truth—treatment methods that embody the era's grim understanding of mental health.

Visitors entering the institution step into a world that conflates discipline with therapy. Patients are subjected to crude restraints and shackles, their humanity forgotten in the name of control. Staff members, known not for their compassion but for their stern attitudes, adhere to the belief that harsh punishment can drive out the demons lurking within the afflicted minds.

Electroconvulsive therapy, considered groundbreaking at the time, is administered without the finesse and understanding of its potential side effects. The frenzied energy of the treatment room ecohos throughout the ancient structure, embodying the desperation of both patients and practitioners.