Mental Healthcare Reform in the United States

SOURCE npr.org
The United States has drastically changed its approach to treating people with severe mental illnesses over the last century, moving from institutionalization to community care. However, the current system is failing, leading to many mentally ill individuals living on the streets. There is now a debate on whether to reinstitutionalize those who cannot care for themselves.

Key Points

  • President Kennedy signed the Community Mental Health Act in 1963, aiming to transform mental healthcare in the U.S.
  • Deinstitutionalization led to a reduction of over 90% in the number of people in asylums by the 2000s
  • Research suggests that mental illness is a significant predictor of homelessness, with over 20% of homeless Americans suffering from severe mental illnesses
  • Advocates for reinstitutionalization argue for more assertive or coerced treatment for mentally ill individuals

Pros

  • Transition from asylums to community care aimed to provide better and more humane treatment for mentally ill individuals
  • Efforts to address homelessness and mental illness through housing first solutions have shown promise in some studies

Cons

  • Underfunding of community health centers has led to inadequate support for mentally ill individuals in communities
  • Current approach in cities like Los Angeles, known as 'tolerant containment,' is seen as inhumane and expensive