Camarillo State Mental Hospital opened in 1936 on 1,760 acres of land purchased by the State of California four years earlier. The hospital would remain at the location until 1997.
The hospital had a sound reputation during the 1950s and 1960s. It was at the forefront of treating difficult illnesses, like drug and therapy procedures and schizophrenia. Indeed, programs started at Camarillo ultimately helped patients leave the hospital to group homes and on occasion independence. Camarillo also had one of the first autism units of any hospital. … Read more →