There was a drastic change in mental health in the 1950s, and this was referred

Question

There was a drastic change in mental health in the 1950s, and this was referred to as deinstitutionalization. What happened was with the use of psychopharmacology, patients in large numbers were let out of the asylums and returned to society. Critics of this movement blame deinstitutionalization for the increase of homelessness and abuse of the mentally ill that exists today.

Share your views of deinstitutionalization and the fate of the less fortunate and economically impoverished mentally ill people today. Research the issue on the Internet and locate programs that work to assist the mentally ill.

Explanation / Answer

Deinstitutionalization in the 1950’s was a bold move. Like most great ideas and initiatives, the intent was fantastic. However, the communication of the plan as well as its execution is what was not successful.

Back then, mentally ill patients were not treated with care and respect. They were tortured and traumatized and chained like animals. Releasing these people is most certainly not the cause of mess that we see in society today. There is no relation of the less fortunate and economically impoverished mentally ill people of today’s era with this event.

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