The Pros And Cons Of Deinstitutionalization

Deinstitutionalization is defined as exchanging in-house, long term psychiatric hospitals with community health facilities for people who struggle with mental disorders or developmental disabilities.[1] This came through reducing the total number of people in mental institutions by releasing them, shortening the stay, decreasing admissions and readmissions. It also changed the admission procedures to decrease dependency on the institution itself.[2] The results of deinstitutionalization have been good for some however, there have been negative consequences as well. Even though those with mild mental issues have been successfully treated with medicine within the community, releasing mass amounts of mentally struggling patients has not been

Prior to this, electric shock and lobotomies were the primary treatment of the mentally ill.[2] This new medicine, along with federal funding to community facilities and the belief by many that institutions were cruel and inhumane, fueled the release of the mentally ill into America’s communities. “In 1955, the number of those hospitalized grew to an all time high of 558,000 and they suffered from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression. Many had organic brain diseases such as dementia and brain damage from trauma.”[2] This number would begin to decline, leaving many without help and institutions forced to close their doors for lack of

“Since 1976, there have been 20 mass murders a year on average. J. Reid Meloy, Ph.D., is a forensic psychologist who has studied them. He found that mass murderers suffer mental illnesses that range from chronic psychotic disturbances, schizophrenia, and paranoid disorders. They have the paranoid, narcissistic, and schizoid traits of personality disorders.”[2] He believes that these were not just average people who snapped, but were people who suffered for years of untreated mental illness. Added to the problems are those who have become homeless because they do not have family, cannot afford their medicine and lack the resources to help themselves. The jails also house many mentally ill people who have failed in attempts to function in society. The percentage is believed to be around 16% or 378,000