Investigation by Carolyn Atkinson and Ben Robinson has revealed a startling case where an autistic woman with a learning disability was wrongly confined to a mental health hospital for 45 years, beginning at the tender age of seven. Referred to as Kasibba to protect her identity, she was held in solitary confinement for 25 years despite being non-verbal and lacking any family to advocate for her. The release of Kasibba, which took nine years to accomplish, was spearheaded by a clinical psychologist who uncovered the troubling situation she was trapped in.
The Department of Health and Social Care expressed their disapproval at the continued incarceration of disabled individuals in mental health facilities, stating that reforms to the Mental Health Act were aimed at preventing such inappropriate detentions. In England, over 2,000 individuals with autism and learning disabilities remain detained in mental health hospitals, including around 200 children who do not suffer from mental illness. Despite government assurances following a 2011 BBC exposé of abuse at Winterbourne View private hospital, targets to transition these patients to community care have been consistently missed.
Dr. Patsie Staite, a clinical psychologist, first discovered Kasibba’s plight in 2013 but only managed to secure her release in 2022 after years of persistence. Despite being labeled as “dangerous” by hospital staff, it was revealed that a single incident decades ago led to this misconception. Dr. Staite’s report to Camden Council, accompanied by a team of health professionals dubbed the “escape committee,” confirmed Kasibba’s readiness to live in the community and paved the way for her freedom.
Now residing in the community with the assistance of support workers, Kasibba’s transition has been one of joy and relief for those involved in her case. The passing of the Mental Health Bill in parliament aims to prevent the detention of autistic individuals and those with learning disabilities who do not have a mental health condition. Camden Council expressed regret for Kasibba’s prolonged institutionalization, emphasizing the need for adequate community support services to prevent such tragedies
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