Deinstitutionalization and the development of community mental health

Deinstitutionalization is a policy initiative that began in the 1950s with the transfer of severely mentally ill patients to the community. State governments (which controlled) state mental hospitals quickly realized that they could save a great deal of money by transferring former patients to the community where they would be cared for by the federal government. The creation of Social Security Supplemental Disability Income (SSDI) hastened this transfer. Reformers believed that many of the patients that resided in state hospitals could live productive lives in the community. Some patients did live productive lives; however, many ended up in jails, on the streets and in long-term nursing homes. The jury is still out as to whether Deinstitutionalization was a success or not. Many critics argue that the policy was not well thought out and it resulted in many former patients receiving little to no care. Others argue that if the money followed the patients into the community, care would have been more than adequate.