In 1955 the first effective antipsychotic drug was developed. This opened the door for deinstitutionalization to begin. Deinstitutionalization is the policy of taking the severely mentally ill out of state institutions, and then closing those institutions. The idea is that the mentally ill will no longer be placed permanently in psychiatric facilities, but will be able to have a life in the community with proper treatment from a community health center. This makes deinstitutionalization sound like a terrific idea, but it does not come without problems. Deinstitutionalization has created a huge crisis among the mentally ill population (Fuller 1). Deinstitutionalization has had a large effect on mental health hospitals, community health centers,
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One-third of the homeless population suffer from some kind of mental illness. Without proper treatment they cannot function in society, and end up on the streets (French 502). In the article by Laurence French, it states that “The shortage of low-cost housing for the mentally ill, and the major cuts in social service funding are significant factors” (502). Community treatment is often not what it should be, and the severely mentally ill become homeless (French 503). When the severely mentally ill become homeless they are often stereotyped and victimized. There was an incident where a mentally ill man was accused of assaulting a young girl, and when he was released he was beaten to death by a group of civilians. Stereotypes are given to the homeless, mentally ill population because of situations like this. These stereotypes put fixing the issue of the mentally ill homeless population due to deinstitutionalization at the very bottom of the list. (French 503). Between community health hospitals closing their doors, and inadequate treatment from community health centers, along with victimization and stereotyping of mentally ill many patients are becoming and staying homeless. Without proper care, the mentally ill will just continue to become homeless, where they will be victimized and mistreated (French
One-third of the homeless population suffer from some kind of mental illness. Without proper treatment they cannot function in society, and end up on the streets (French 502). In the article by Laurence French, it states that “The shortage of low-cost housing for the mentally ill, and the major cuts in social service funding are significant factors” (502). Community treatment is often not what it should be, and the severely mentally ill become homeless (French 503). When the severely mentally ill become homeless they are often stereotyped and victimized. There was an incident where a mentally ill man was accused of assaulting a young girl, and when he was released he was beaten to death by a group of civilians. Stereotypes are given to the homeless, mentally ill population because of situations like this. These stereotypes put fixing the issue of the mentally ill homeless population due to deinstitutionalization at the very bottom of the list. (French 503). Between community health hospitals closing their doors, and inadequate treatment from community health centers, along with victimization and stereotyping of mentally ill many patients are becoming and staying homeless. Without proper care, the mentally ill will just continue to become homeless, where they will be victimized and mistreated (French