Exploring the Abandoned Riverview Mental Health Asylum

In this video, I explore the history of Riverview Mental Hospital, an iconic institution nestled in Coquitlam, British Columbia. Riverview Mental Hospital, also known as Essondale, was established in 1913 and designed to provide progressive and compassionate care for individuals with mental health challenges. Over the years, it evolved into a self-sustained community, housing thousands of patients and employing numerous staff members who dedicated their lives to the well-being of those under their care.
Throughout the 20th century, Riverview witnessed significant advancements in psychiatric medicine, offering innovative treatments and therapies that shaped the understanding and treatment of mental health conditions. But with progress came challenges, and the hospital faced periods of controversy, including concerns about patient care, funding issues, and changing societal attitudes towards mental health.
#riverview #mentalhospital #coquitlam
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⏰ TIMESTAMPS ⏰
0:00 RIVERVIEW MENTAL HOSPITAL
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[@Gina-RaeHorvath]

Better treatment would be good. Closing it has been terrible. Now east Vancouver streets are where these people are. It's a beautiful and useful building, l would love to see it reopen with compassionate mental health care in place.

[@TravelingTramps]

Enjoyed your tour and hearing the history of Riverview, Graham. It's story is much the same as all over. Treatments we're often misguided in the past. That's putting it mildly, but was the best medicine could come up with back then, I spent my entire work career working with the cognitively impaired in a facility somewhat like this. I'm now retired, but ours is still open although much smaller than it once was. Many shuttered building on the grounds. Many advances have been made and most residents and new ones moved into a group home setting. But still, for the most severely impaired and aggressive, smaller versions of these will have to live on. Loved your video!

[@wanderesschannel]

Another great video! I really appreciate all the information/research you put into this, thanks for sharing!

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

Would be so awesome to go inside of this place! Creepy, but cool

[@OutWestwithJeff]

Another great video, Graham! I was actually inside Pennington Hall on a 'work field trip' back in 2003. I believe there were still between 400 - 500 patients still at Riverview at the time. Despite the natural beauty of the sprawling property, there was certainly a sad/eerie feel in the air. The buildings were very assuming as you said. Quite a place with quite a history here in BC ...

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

Thanks Jeff! You can still feel the atmosphere even today. Especially now that it sits mostly still. A bit of an eerie place to wander but such a beautiful property!

[@TravelHungryForLife]

Very nice enjoyed this Asylum history here well done

[@JenniferandMark2014]

Impressive buildings with so much history. Jenn

[@lahirusankalpa]

Thanks for sharing have a nice day

[@TheJourneyAwaits]

I did not expect to see on site housing for staff. Well that’s pretty cool about the movies that have been filmed there. 👍

[@alanwilliamson6421]

Great view for the facility

[@terrific-bats]

awesome video ! good work

[@OffRampAdventures]

Wow! Amazing how it looks so much like our Kentucky Waverly Asylum!

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

It's quite an imposing building!

[@robatsea2009]

My cousin did her entire nursing career there, and the father of a school mate worked there until retirement. Both said it was a great place to work. When my sister got married the flower arrangements / decorations for the reception were done there. The grounds are certainly amazing - there are tree varieties from around the world, and as you undoubtedly saw it really looks incredible at different times of the year. Obviously needs some TLC, though - after the hospital's closure in the 1990s that failed concept of having the needs of patients addressed in their individual communities resulted in so many filling the DTES, and lead to the deterioration of conditions there. Earlier this year when I visited a pair of coyotes were having a field day running around the grounds; at one point I was passing near where the cabins are and stopped the car for them to pass - one of them actually did a loop around the car before rejoining its mate. Where the old pharmaceutical warehouse is now houses the SPARC (Society for Preservation of Antique Radio in Canada) Museum, which is open on Sundays. I visited it years ago, and they had a really fascinating display of everything from household radios to a vintage Bamfield communications center to equipment that belonged to the late Jack Cullen.

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

Fascinating! I'm glad to hear the working conditions were good. I think some of the issues seem from practices that were accepted at the time but are no longer used. And of course overcrowding is always a problem. But I personally believe that having active care and support is better than turning people out on the street.

[@robatsea2009]

@@ExitThrutheGiftShop Absolutely! I know that one of the rallying cries at the time of the closure was that such facilities were dark reminders of the past - but as with most everything that evolves practices that were in place 100 years ago, 50 years ago, even more recent - are no longer used or relevant. An actual supportive environment with attentive care is far more humane than the misery so many of these people have been consigned to - they become fodder for the dealers and predators out to exploit their conditions.

[@seananand9934]

The place is haunted this is a true story of Grave Encounters

[@noahpasquier2901]

going at night act is so scary

[@destinationdero]

This is a very cool thing to do for the Halloween season

[@DA-js7xz]

Such a sad and traumatic place for many. Glad that the government is planning to do something much healthier with these lands.

[@ryguy5929]

Until those mental health patients show at your neighborhood

[@shlock1459]

4:48 is a built set for filming.

[@WanderingwithWatto]

A great informative video. A bit sad when you think about the numbers involved. But a very interesting watch nonetheless. 🚶🏻‍♂️

[@SonoAyu]

But in esp it was older and has been renovated?

[@mindbodyandsoul604]

Someone should buy and do paranormal tours

[@cameroncheung3659]

@Exit Thru the Gift Shop do you have a Spirit Halloween Lil Skelly Bones animatronic

[@darrenmkj]

grave encounters！

[@Adevine369]

Y don’t they fix it up and transfer the house less