03-03-2014, 08:56 PM
(03-03-2014, 02:49 AM)username Wrote: I don't know why this has been bugging me lately, but it seems to me when we did away with forced insane asylums (beyond the 72 hour law or whatever), we may have gone too far. Didn't that congressman whose son attacked him and ended up killing himself or something say he couldn't find a bed for the nut a couple of days before that all occurred? I think we need fewer prisons and more nut houses.
It bugs me, too.
There were some real abuses in regards to mental institutions back in the day; staff abusing patients, corrupt and/or lazy people having others who were inconvenient but not mentally ill committed, etc...
But, I agree with you that the pendulum has swung too far the other way in the US. It's very hard to get someone treated or committed legitimately for their own safety and the safety of others these days without the mentally/emotionally ill person's consent. But, the illness many times prevents someone from knowing they're ill, so... And, even when someone realizes they aren't thinking right and reaches out, the scale-back in such facilities too often means there's not a bed available, so back out into society they go.
As a result, I think there are quite a lot of people in jail/prison and living on the streets because the more appropriate option wasn't available when it was needed.
It was Senator Creigh Deeds from Virginia whose son attacked him and then killed himself. I watched Senator Deeds on 60 Minutes recently; he blames the system and shortage of beds for his son's death. The senator got LE to take his son to the emergency room because he had a breakdown and was dangerous, but the emergency room couldn't find a space for the kid at any psychiatric facilities. So, they released him.