Seeking Asylum

Jessica Whitehead's lens is special. Not just the one on her camera, but also the one that gives her the ability to understand this country's complex issues surrounding the mental healthcare system.

I first met Jessica in May of 2024 in my role as a newspaper reporter. She was promoting the opening of her Central State Hospital museum exhibit. Her reputation as the "Asylum Lady" preceded her. I knew of her photography project covering what was once the world's largest mental health instituti...