Deinstutionalization of the Mentally Ill

Deinstutionalization of the Mentally Ill






Deinstitutionalization of the Mentally Ill
HSM/210 Version 3
February 7, 2014

Deinstitutionalization of the Mentally Ill
By definition deinstitutionalization is the process of replacing long-stay psychiatric hospitals with less isolated community mental health services for those diagnosed with mental disorders or a developmental disability (Wikipedia Web Definitions).
“According to (Fakhoury & Priebe, 2007) the care of patients with mental illness has undergone major changes over the last centuries. From the asylums that were built to house individuals with that needed care for mental diseases. The conditions were deplorable in the early 20th century, and because of this the deinstitutionalization movement resulted in their closure. Different services were then established in the community to provide alternative form of care.
Deinstitutionalization changed in a dramatic way psychiatric services. Health systems were embracing the new ideas of community healthcare. The cost was effective, because there was little difference between hospitalization and outpatient care. Many patients were moved from being in a long term hospital care to an environment were supported housing provided full or part-time supervision, or some were care for by a specialized team in the community if needed.
However there was wide spread criticism as well, because of the lack of preparation that was give to the patients before discharging them into the community. Because of this a significant amount of mentally ill people did not, or could not get proper treatment and ended up homeless, or in prison. It is also suggested, but not proven that deinstitutionalization contributed to the increase in homicides in the community.
Local communities are trying to combat the issues of crime, homelessness, and communicable diseases by providing more readily available resources through different organizations, and private groups who can help with funding and the...

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