From Asylum to Advocacy: Lessons from the History of DeJarnette
- shealynclinger
- Sep 28
- 2 min read
This past weekend took me down to Staunton, Virginia, and past the old DeJarnette Asylum. As I drove by its looming structure, I couldn’t help but think about the history of mental health in our country — how far we’ve come, and yet how far we still have to go.
A Dark Chapter in Mental Health History
The DeJarnette State Sanatorium, founded in the early 20th century and named after psychiatrist Dr. Joseph DeJarnette, was once considered progressive in its time. But looking back, its story is a haunting reminder of how stigma and fear shaped our systems of care.
Dr. DeJarnette became a leading voice for eugenics and forced sterilization, arguing that those with mental illness, disabilities, or who were deemed “unfit” should not reproduce. These ideas fueled Virginia’s sterilization laws, which led to thousands of people being permanently denied the right to have families of their own.
Inside, life was no kinder. Patients often endured isolation, overcrowding, restraints, electroshock therapy, and lifelong institutionalization. For many, entering a place like DeJarnette meant never coming out again.
How Far We’ve Come
Driving past that building, I also thought about the progress we have made:
Human Rights & Dignity: Policies rooted in eugenics have been dismantled. Today, we recognize every person’s right to autonomy and compassion.
Modern Therapies: We now have evidence-based approaches — CBT, DBT, EMDR, mindfulness, and trauma-informed care — that prioritize healing and growth over control.
Neurodiversity Awareness: Conditions like autism, ADHD, and learning differences are increasingly seen as natural variations of the human brain, not something to be hidden or “fixed.”
Advocacy & Voice: Those with lived experience are now leaders and changemakers in mental health, ensuring policies and practices are shaped by the people most affected.
The Work Still Ahead
Yet, as hopeful as this progress is, echoes of the asylum era remain:
Barriers to Access: Affordable, quality care is still out of reach for too many families.
Stigma & Silence: Talking about mental health is more common, but shame and misunderstanding still run deep.
Incarceration as Institution: Far too often, people with mental illness end up in jails or prisons instead of receiving care.
Underfunding & Burnout: Our mental health systems remain stretched thin, leaving long waitlists and overburdened providers.
Honoring the Past, Building the Future
Seeing the old DeJarnette building in Staunton was a reminder: when society dehumanizes those with mental illness, we create systems of harm. But when we choose compassion, equity, and dignity, we create systems of healing.
We’ve made great strides since the days of the asylum — but the journey is unfinished. The best way to honor those who suffered behind those walls is to continue building a future where mental health care is accessible, affirming, and equitable for all.
✨ At Cerebral Counseling & Consulting, we carry this mission forward — blending science, strategy, and heart to support individuals and families with dignity and hope.
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