Granmarderby10
I am of the opinion that the mass closure of the big mental hospitals was a big mistake.
They kept the majority of those who were a potential danger either to themselves or others under observation and possibly enforced treatment.
I am quite well aware of the tragic injustice of other people detained for decade after decade who should not have been even admitted in the first place and became institutionalised.
However it was a naive notion (driven mostly by the need to “save” money) that all the different types of mental illness could be accommodated in the community.
When the very big old institutions were closed there were enough acute wards and community mental health staff to treat and help and monitor acute conditions.
I'm aware locally in a large city that 3 out of 4 wards - yes, three quarters - have closed just since 2011 and staff are quite unable to provide support and supervision adequately anymore yet demand has increased.
this come up on a lot of threads where there has been for example stabbings and people say, why aren't these people in care.being cared for, they should have been, and the answer is that until we invest in enough facilities there won't be any change.