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Deinstitutionalization, homelessness, and the myth of psychiatric abandonment: A structural anthropology perspective

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  • Mossman, Douglas

Abstract

Encounters with disturbed homeless persons have become an expected part of American urban life. Mental health professionals and the general public believe that the closing of public mental hospitals--"deinstitutionalization"--has caused homelessness, and that problems suffered and caused by the mentally ill homeless have resulted from American psychiatrists' abandonment of the patients who once were housed in large public mental institutions. This article suggests that the abandonment thesis should be regarded as a "myth" or sacred cultural tale that incorporates important themes in late 20th century American political culture. Psychiatrists can examine this myth and understand its meaning using analytical techniques elaborated by structural anthropologists.

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  • Mossman, Douglas, 1997. "Deinstitutionalization, homelessness, and the myth of psychiatric abandonment: A structural anthropology perspective," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 71-83, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:44:y:1997:i:1:p:71-83
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    Cited by:

    1. João Gama Marques & Daniela Chesi & Raquel Oliveira Coelho & Inês Castanheira Costa & Celso Santos Antão & Carlos Alberto Pedro & Paulo Silva Santos & José Xavier Diogo, 2024. "Homeless Outreach Psychiatric Engagement for Lisboa (HOPE 4 Lisboa): One year of marontology, and one John Doe living with Diogenes syndrome," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 70(1), pages 227-230, February.

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