7. Abuse by Staff
Accounts from the era reveal that physical and psychological abuse by staff was tragically common in many asylums. Overworked, undertrained, or indifferent attendants often lashed out at patients with beatings, threats, and cruel punishments. Verbal humiliation and intimidation were used to enforce submission, leaving deep emotional scars. With little oversight or accountability, vulnerable individuals were left defenseless against those meant to care for them, compounding the trauma of their institutionalization.
