Ward D

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses stigmatizing tropes that connect mental health conditions to criminal behavior, which Ward D portrays.

Amy’s friend Jade was diagnosed with hereditary Bipolar I when they were 16, after an incident with their math teacher, Mr. Riordan. Amy ran from the situation and visited Jade after she was admitted to Ward D, the latter being furious at having been betrayed. This incident left Amy afraid of Ward D, but as she is assigned to the locked psychiatric ward through her medical school, she is forced to confront her trauma. While the situation is uncomfortable, her fear threatens to become bias throughout the night. Jade’s diagnosis was not unexpected since her mother, whom she killed, also had the same mental health condition, which likely exacerbated her abuse of Jade. However, Jade struggles to find proper treatment because her doctors cannot find the right combination of medication to control her symptoms. She also dislikes her pills because they make her feel sluggish and cause weight gain. This combination of issues has caused her to lack self-control, leading to multiple hospitalizations and legal problems.

Besides Jade, there are multiple patients in Ward D who experience various forms of schizophrenia.