Asylum facts for kids

Asylum is a word with several meanings. It often refers to a place where people can find safety and protection. It can also mean a place that helps people who are sick or in need.

What Asylum Means

Asylum can mean different things, depending on how it is used. Here are some common ways the word is used:

Places of Care

• Psychiatric Hospital: This is a special hospital that helps people with mental health conditions. In the past, these places were sometimes called "insane asylums" or "mental asylums." Today, we use the term psychiatric hospital. They focus on treatment and support.
• Orphanage: An orphanage is a place that cares for children who have lost their parents. These places are sometimes called "orphan asylums." They provide a home and support for children in need.

Seeking Safety

• Political Asylum: This is when someone asks for protection in another country. They do this because they are afraid for their safety in their home country. This fear might be due to their political beliefs or other reasons.
• Asylum Seeker: An asylum seeker is a person who has left their home country and asked for protection in another country. They are waiting for their request to be approved.
• Refugee: A refugee is someone who has been forced to leave their country. This can be because of war, violence, or natural disasters. They need protection in another country.

Asylum in Pop Culture

The word "asylum" is also used in many areas of entertainment.

Music

• Asylum Records: This is an American record company. They have released music by many different artists, especially in hip-hop.
• Soul Asylum: This is a rock band that started in 1983. They are well-known for their song "Runaway Train."
• Asylum: This is also the name of a band from Croatia, formed in 2007.
• Asylum: This is the title of an album by the American hard rock band Kiss.
• Asylum: This is also the title of a song by the band The Orb.

Movies and TV Shows

• The Asylum: This is a movie studio that makes many different kinds of films.
• Asylum: This is the title of a 1996 comedy TV series from the UK.
• Asylum: This is also the title of a 2005 movie based on a novel.
• Asylum: This is an episode from the popular TV series Supernatural. It stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles.
• Asylum: This is a novel from the Doctor Who series.

Gaming

• Asylum: This is the name of several video games. One was an arcade game from 1991. Another was released for the Commodore 64 computer in 1986.
• Asylum: In the ShadowMan video game from 1999, the Asylum is a large tower built by a character named Legion.

Radio

• The Asylum: This was a radio show that was on air in the 1980s on WMBR.

See Also

In Spanish: Asylum para niños