The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists has described what happened at the Lake Alice psychiatric hospital as "a shameful chapter in our nation's history", as it today offered an apology to the survivors in Palmerston North.
"The impact of the abuse was severe, and for many survivors, the harm is still felt deeply today," it said.
In-person apology delivered to former patients and whānau for repeated and systemic failures. (Source: 1News)
"It's been felt and passed down over generations with severe lifelong consequences for many survivors' mental and physical health."
The Lake Alice psychiatric hospital was built in 1950. Staff, made up of teams of psychologists, psychiatrists, medical and nursing staff and therapists, lived on the hospital grounds.
The apology focuses specifically on the "torturous actions" carried out and directed by psychiatrist Dr Selwyn Leeks.
They spoke to 1News as charges were finally laid against one former staffer at the Lake Alice child and adolescent unit. (Source: 1News)
Today, a full apology was offered to survivors of the hospital by RANZCP.
"To survivors, to their whānau, and to those who are descendants of those who suffered and who did not survive, the RANZCP offers a full and sincere apology.
"You were failed."
Leeks started seeing young patients at the hospital around June 1971. At this time, there was no designated child or adolescent unit, so patients were housed in the general 'villas'. He was responsible for all patients at Lake Alice under the age of 17.
The following year, the hospital set up dedicated villas for boys only, with girls accommodated at the women's villa.
An Abuse in Care inquiry later found there were concerns about adult patients raping and sexually assaulting children and young people.
The inquiry also found survivors described their experience at the hospital as one of "violence and terror". Electric shock treatment (ECT) was used as punishment. One survivor told the inquiry the ECT machine would be wheeled into the dining room "to scare us into being good".
Survivors described Leeks as "the main instigator" for the delivery of the shocks, and some said children would lose control of their bladders and bowels because they were so afraid of getting shocks.
"We would both lie in the foetal position in the dayroom, urinating and defecating with fear, clinging to each other, crying, waiting to see if we would be called for ECT," one survivor told the inquiry.
Survivors told of children aged 5 and 6 who received it. One survivor said: "I think that Leeks liked to listen to the screams."
The Royal Commission Abuse in Care inquiry estimates between 400 and 450 children went through Lake Alice between 1970 and 1980. They were taken to Lake Alice for a range of things, including health issues such as epilepsy or even getting into fights at school.
"Behavioural" was the most common reason for referrals to the hospital. In many cases, there was no diagnosis before admission or treatment.
In December 2022, the 'Beautiful Children' report fully condemned Dr Leek's actions for the first time, and his fellowship to RANZCP was rescinded.
By Emily Cooper
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