In the basements of madness (1979): narratives from the written press about the Hospital Colônia of Barbacena

narrativas da imprensa escrita sobre o Hospital Colônia de Barbacena

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the narratives in the written press based on a series of reports published by the Estado de Minas newspaper in 1979. These news stories focused on hospitals that were part of the so-called "public itinerary of madness" and gained prominence during the movement for Psychiatric Reform. In this context, the main purpose is to analyze the selected articles in light of the newspaper’s need to publish in order to raise public awareness. The reports used take on the character of denunciation in the face of the unfolding scenario in the pursuit of specialized care and are characterized as the main source for this study.