Across the Liesbeek and Black Rivers stands Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital. Its imposing silhouette speaks of a long and complex history. Valkenberg wasn’t always a hospital. It began life as a farm in 1720 owned by Cornelius Valk. The land later became a hospital in 1891. This was after the Colonial Government bought the Valkenberg estate to build a reformatory. That plan never happened. Instead it became a ‘lunatic asylum’. Patients were transferred from Robben Island. Conditions there were overcrowded and unhealthy. Suicide rates were high. Valkenberg offered a safer alternative.
The first 36 patients arrived at Valkenberg on February 20 1891. Initially there were two racially segregated hospitals. This reflects the harsh realities of apartheid. The hospital later became linked to the University of Cape Town’s Medical School. This helped improve its standards and treatment. Famous patients included the poet Ingrid Jonker. She was admitted with depression in the 1960s. She wrote about her experiences at Valkenberg. The hospital also features in K Sello Duiker’s novel The Quiet Violence of Dreams. His main character Tshepo struggles with mental illness.
In 1998 Valkenberg faced closure. There were plans to rationalise services. This sparked widespread protests. Valkenberg remained open. The site was consolidated. The number of beds was reduced. In 2006 a new Admission Unit was completed. This included High Care units for acutely ill patients. The old wards were outdated. They reflected an older more custodial approach to care. Modern psychiatric care is more humane. It emphasizes effective treatment.
Today Valkenberg offers general in and outpatient psychiatric services. There are specialised units like the Forensic Unit and Acute Admission Units. There are 370 beds. About 165 are for acute psychiatric care. 145 are for forensic psychiatric services. The rest are for long-term patients. Patients are admitted voluntarily assisted or involuntarily. This follows the South African Mental Health Care Act of 2002.
Valkenberg’s museum shows how attitudes to mental health have changed. Old equipment and surgical tools are on display. There are staff photos and extracts from old visitors’ rule books. These books reveal much about society’s past views on mental illness. The museum also has an old isolation room. There is a straitjacket and equipment for electric shock treatment. Today electroconvulsive therapy or ECT is done differently. It is administered under general anaesthetic. It is a last resort for people who do not respond to other treatments.
Valkenberg is more than a hospital. It is a place with a rich and layered history. It reflects changes in South African society. It reflects changes in psychiatric practice. It tells stories of hope and despair. It is a place of healing and reflection. It is a place to remember.