Mental health is an issue most face sometime in their life. 1in 5 adults in America have recently faced mental health issues. These illnesses are often stigmatized and viewed as having less importance compared to their physical counterparts. This situation harms the mentally ill and those close to them. The mental health system in America is inadequate to help patients due to its’ historical failures, lack of proper mental health facilities, and inaccessibility for Americans.
America’s mental health system has historically failed to provide humane care for the patients. Multiple exposés and news reports have exposed what goes on inside a mental hospital. Throughout the early 19th to the mid 20th century, “thousands [were on] a starvation diet...” …show more content…
One instance was that an “attendant jumped up with an inch-wide restraining strap and began to beat the patient in the face and on top of the head. ‘Get the hell up…!’ It was a few minutes-a few horrible ones for the patient- before the attendant discovered that he was strapped around the middle to the bench and could not get up” (Maisel). An article for Forbes found that America made “a number of advances towards leveling the playing field” and “politicians pushed through numerous legal motions that will advance the treatment of mental health in the United States” (Utley) in recent years. The idea of reform has been present since the sixties, when President John F. Kennedy passed a bill to have “custodial mental institutions will be replaced by therapeutic centers" (United States, Congress, Senate [Page 1]). Unfortunately, most reform efforts have failed. When referring to Fulton State Hospital, Missouri State Rep. Jeanne Kirkton said “the place is something out of the 1920s. Have you ever seen ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’? It’s that, but worse.” This was affirmed by “a report by the Missouri Mental Health Department found …show more content…
Abuse is common practice in facilities, many have custodial issues, and are understaffed. Prisons have become the biggest treatment center for the mentally ill throughout the country. Treatment is costly and hard to find, especially given the lack of psychiatrists and lack of insurance within the community. While these problems have become more visible and legislation as attempted to fix this, more needs to be done. Mental illness impacts many Americans and it is vital for improvements to be made. The current system is broken and it must be
America’s mental health system has historically failed to provide humane care for the patients. Multiple exposés and news reports have exposed what goes on inside a mental hospital. Throughout the early 19th to the mid 20th century, “thousands [were on] a starvation diet...” …show more content…
One instance was that an “attendant jumped up with an inch-wide restraining strap and began to beat the patient in the face and on top of the head. ‘Get the hell up…!’ It was a few minutes-a few horrible ones for the patient- before the attendant discovered that he was strapped around the middle to the bench and could not get up” (Maisel). An article for Forbes found that America made “a number of advances towards leveling the playing field” and “politicians pushed through numerous legal motions that will advance the treatment of mental health in the United States” (Utley) in recent years. The idea of reform has been present since the sixties, when President John F. Kennedy passed a bill to have “custodial mental institutions will be replaced by therapeutic centers" (United States, Congress, Senate [Page 1]). Unfortunately, most reform efforts have failed. When referring to Fulton State Hospital, Missouri State Rep. Jeanne Kirkton said “the place is something out of the 1920s. Have you ever seen ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’? It’s that, but worse.” This was affirmed by “a report by the Missouri Mental Health Department found …show more content…
Abuse is common practice in facilities, many have custodial issues, and are understaffed. Prisons have become the biggest treatment center for the mentally ill throughout the country. Treatment is costly and hard to find, especially given the lack of psychiatrists and lack of insurance within the community. While these problems have become more visible and legislation as attempted to fix this, more needs to be done. Mental illness impacts many Americans and it is vital for improvements to be made. The current system is broken and it must be