SOME PEOPLE NEED TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED - RETHINKING MENTAL HEALTH

SOME PEOPLE NEED TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED - RETHINKING MENTAL HEALTH

By Domenick J. Maglio PhD. Traditional Realist

This conflict between individual freedom and the community protection has constantly popped up over time. In the 1950s and through the early 1960s there was a movement to close state mental health institutions while increasing funds for local mental health centers. Investigative reporters exposing scandalous behaviors of large mental health centers throughout the nation accelerated this deinstitutionalizing movement.  Patients were not receiving acceptable treatment, caring and sometimes received horrific abuse according to these investigative reporter narratives.

The answer to these shameful conditions came in at the same time as the advancement of modern medicines. The psychotropic drugs were promoted as “wonder drugs” to stabilize mentally ill people. These patients were supposed to be able to function outside of the confines of secure lockup institutions and be placed back into the community. Local mental health clinics were beefed up with substantial government funding allowing the deinstitutionalizing of mental health services to be taken over by the local mental health clinics. This was supposed to better meet the needs of these mental health clients.

A similar wishful-thinking concept in our federal prison system has been put in place. The First-Step criminal reform bill was passed in December 2018 to shorten the prison time of drug related crimes.  The inmates were given the opportunity to earn credits to shorten their drug sentence by as much as 1/3 if they successfully participated in vocational or rehabilitation programs or were model prisoners. Under these new guidelines of releasing non-violent drug convictions back into the community was a requirement that dangerous criminals not be released. Understandably, some of these convicts had committed other violent acts of various degrees. Many opponents of this new law argue that many of these so-called victimless crimes are killing many addicts. They point out that half a kilo of fentanyl would kill 50,000 people.

Mental Health institutions and prison incarceration are not pleasant places to be housed. Individuals are locked up against their will. Their freedoms are significantly curtailed and the other inmates are not people you want to be around. They are not mentally balanced and are often dangerous. The accommodations are Spartan-like facilities. It is not a lifestyle that many people would prefer but some purposefully break rules to “jam their time” in order to remain institutionalized.

Clearing out our institutions sounds as great as every citizen will receive free everything from the government. The reality is we have to have laws to protect others and we have to enforce them to protect others and people hurting themselves.

The experiment to de-institutionalize our mental health facilities is becoming too obvious to ignore. The “tent city enclaves” in some of our previously beautiful city landmarks are revolting places. The defecation, filth, disease, shooting-up on the street and offensive verbal attacks on innocent passer-bys is shocking and truly deplorable. No increase in “injection-sites” will alter or prevent this debasement of humanity.

Many of these street people have mental health issues, drug addiction, severe and multiple medical issues. Their life styles are not conducive to physical, mental stability and overall health. This cannot be denied.

The “supposedly” miraculous drugs that helped spur on the deinstitutionalization of mental health turned out to be a mirage, as it did not account for human nature. Mentally ill people as well as normal ones tend to avoid terrible tasting pills, complicated time schedules for taking and consistently visiting local mental health centers. Most mentally ill people just drop out of this confusing, demanding, and degrading commitment. Most of these impaired people turn away from these unrealistic regiments often ending up on the street.

This same problem happens with the deinstitutionalization of prisoners. Once they leave their home, the prison, most have learned or accepted that they have to suffer with their past reputation. They will be tested to deal with suspicion and unfairness. Inmates are of average intelligence but their frustration tolerance, patience and appropriate social skills are often lacking. The transition of prisoners back into normal society is a complicated process that requires new ways of thinking and interacting with others.  

Criminal and mental health institutions can never be eliminated. Both will have people who need to be removed from the public because of their violent criminal and mentally destructive behavior.

The ultimate question is how much can our professionals improve non-functioning people’s ability to integrate back into our mainstream society. This ability will determine the number of people who will need to be institutionalized. Mental illness and drug addiction should determine the type of facility needed for the individual’s treatment as well as the public’s safety, not progressive pipedreams.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. Dr. Maglio is an author of weekly newspaper articles, INVASION WITHIN  and a new book entitled, IN CHARGE PARENTING In a PC World. You can see many of Dr. Maglio’s articles at www.drmaglioblogspot.com.