“Ett liv utan frihet, vad är det?” : Berättelser om svensk psykiatri vård under 1940-talet fråninsidan av institutionerna

Sammanfattning: A life without freedom, what is that? This question was stated in a letter from a man institutionalized at one of Sweden’s mental asylums in the 1940s. It is also the title of this essay which explores the life and experiences of institutionalized individuals during 1941–1949. This analysis is based on letters they wrote to the Swedish author Astrid Väring who published her first book regarding the psychiatric care system I som här inträden (1944). Her book was a novel, which yielded great public interest and a year later was adapted for the screen. This led to people starting to write letters to Väring telling her about their stories from inside of the mental healthcare system. These letters constitute the basis for the results of this essay which aims to provide new knowledge on people’s experiences of institutionalization as expressed by their own words. The analysis is a part of the disability history field and a contribution to the critical study of the Swedish Folkhem. Based on both quantitative and qualitative methods, the letters and their contents tell us about those writing these letters and their experiences during, before and after confinement. The results from quantitative analysis of in total 404 letters out of which 207 are subject to in-depth study show that the majority of them were written by men and by people having experienced the mental health care system. Relatives to them, healthcare professionals and individuals without any connection to this system are also found among those writing letters to Väring. From these letters we learn of the abuse inmates endured during their institutionalization both physically and psychologically. Their lives before confinement and the reasons behind it are also focused on. Social friction with people in their surroundings, criminal offenses, and voluntary care exemplify some explanations to their confinement. The stories they share about their life upon release are defined by a sense of fear, persecution, and a loss of property, social networks and sense of security, in addition to a fear of being confined yet again or meeting those who once caused their incarceration. In all, the letters can be seen as a protest against the entire health care system they were faced with, which further reflects the helplessness and frustration they felt regarding their life and situation.