Tales from the New Asylum: The Valediction (Blogcast)

Here, we present a recorded version of Dr James Knoll's Tales From the New Asylum: The Valediction.

Whenever a suicide happens in the New Asylums, a palpable, muted dread descends over the institution. It stays there in full force for weeks and months afterwards, sometimes longer. After that, it is added as another sedimentary layer to the strata and culture of the particular institution. Before things get too deeply buried, it is important to excavate...

The computer database tells me the exact day, the exact time, a phone conversation between the inmate (Nick) and his wife happened—approximately 20 minutes before other inmates reported they saw him pacing anxiously on the balcony. Approximately 30 minutes before other inmates say they see him climb up over the railing with a look of determined fear on his face. Approximately 30 minutes, 10 seconds before they start yelling at him to stop. He didn’t...