One in four adults in the United States (61.5 million) is affected by a mental illness (McEnaney). Of the 61.5 million adults suffering from a mental illness, only 40% (24.6 million) are getting the proper treatment for it (Nieves). Additionally, 1/3 (250,000) of homeless people in the U.S. suffer from serious mental illness, and that number increases every day (Nieves). While health care for mentally challenged individuals in the United States has improved since colonial times, their care today is still insufficient. Mentally ill individuals have endured a long history of misdiagnosis, ostracization, controversial therapies, and failed government intervention, all of which contribute to the inadequacy of current mental health care.
Mental …show more content…
The first act passed was the National Mental Health Act, signed by Truman on July 3rd, 1946 (NIH). This act called for a National Institute of Mental Health to be made (NIH). The NIMH was founded on April 15th, 1949. The purpose of establishing the NIMH was to change the understanding of mental illnesses through research. Founding the NIMH was the first step in improving the facilities in which the mentally ill are kept. The Mental Health Act of 1955 called for “an objective, thorough, nationwide analysis and reevaluation of the human and economic problems of mental health,” (NIH). In response to this call, the NIMH wrote a report titled “Action for Mental Health (1961)” (NIH). The report contained recommendations for then President Kennedy regarding a national program that would help fill the needs of the mentally ill in America (NIH). Because of this, Kennedy sent the first presidential message to congress regarding mental health (NIH). Congress then passed the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act (NIH). This allowed the NIMH to establish mental health centers for researching mental illnesses. This research allowed for treatments such as lithium to be approved by the FDA to be used to help deal with mental illnesses (NIH). In 1977, Jimmy Carter established the President’s Commission on Mental Health in order to review the needs of the mentally ill, as well as give him recommendations regarding how to deal with these needs (NIH). Since then, unfortunately, the government has been losing money and cutting off health care for the mentally ill. Mentally ill individuals then end up on the streets or in jails, instead of in hospitals getting the care they need. Despite the fact that the government has taken a more active role in addressing the needs of the mentally ill, the United States mental health care system is
Mental …show more content…
The first act passed was the National Mental Health Act, signed by Truman on July 3rd, 1946 (NIH). This act called for a National Institute of Mental Health to be made (NIH). The NIMH was founded on April 15th, 1949. The purpose of establishing the NIMH was to change the understanding of mental illnesses through research. Founding the NIMH was the first step in improving the facilities in which the mentally ill are kept. The Mental Health Act of 1955 called for “an objective, thorough, nationwide analysis and reevaluation of the human and economic problems of mental health,” (NIH). In response to this call, the NIMH wrote a report titled “Action for Mental Health (1961)” (NIH). The report contained recommendations for then President Kennedy regarding a national program that would help fill the needs of the mentally ill in America (NIH). Because of this, Kennedy sent the first presidential message to congress regarding mental health (NIH). Congress then passed the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act (NIH). This allowed the NIMH to establish mental health centers for researching mental illnesses. This research allowed for treatments such as lithium to be approved by the FDA to be used to help deal with mental illnesses (NIH). In 1977, Jimmy Carter established the President’s Commission on Mental Health in order to review the needs of the mentally ill, as well as give him recommendations regarding how to deal with these needs (NIH). Since then, unfortunately, the government has been losing money and cutting off health care for the mentally ill. Mentally ill individuals then end up on the streets or in jails, instead of in hospitals getting the care they need. Despite the fact that the government has taken a more active role in addressing the needs of the mentally ill, the United States mental health care system is