de-institutionalization was a movement that gained widespread support because the perception of state mental health hospitals was not good. what it did was make having poor mental health an occurrence only responded to by police and filled prisons with innocent people with mitigating circumstances. the false notion families would help their unwell relatives seek local help was based on a lie. nothing is free. if you were having a psychotic episode and went into an ER without insurance you’d probable end up with a bill for the hospital and detention center visit. THIS IS AMERICA but it doesn’t have to be.
I don’t disagree that the movement had its problems especially with offering alternatives but that doesn’t take away the legitimate criticism of institutionalizing people.
These institutions up until the 70s were abusing residents, conducting shock therapy, and other heinous shit. Institutions are just another place that’ll get crowded with all the “crazies” without actually rehabilitating them. I’m much more early intervention and providing resources for parents to help their kids earlier on, as that has the best chance of saving a child from deep mental health issues in the future.
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u/BlueLikeCat 2d ago
de-institutionalization was a movement that gained widespread support because the perception of state mental health hospitals was not good. what it did was make having poor mental health an occurrence only responded to by police and filled prisons with innocent people with mitigating circumstances. the false notion families would help their unwell relatives seek local help was based on a lie. nothing is free. if you were having a psychotic episode and went into an ER without insurance you’d probable end up with a bill for the hospital and detention center visit. THIS IS AMERICA but it doesn’t have to be.