Deinstitutionalization, Mental Illness, and Homelessness

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    Deinstitutionalization, Mental Illness, and Homelessness

by Matthew Little



The homeless issue in America is prevalent in every major and minor city in the country. As of 2020, 0.2% of citizens in America are living on the street without shelter. 0.2% may not seem like a large amount, but when the total is condensed and localized to cities, 6.6 million people becomes a much bigger statistic. The public view of the homeless population is largely negative; common beliefs are that the homeless are actively neglecting to find work, or will use any money given to them for alcohol or other substances. But something many people aren't aware of are the amount of homeless people who suffer from mental illnesses and have nowhere to go for treatment. In a 2019 study, about 38.5% of homeless people in Portland alone suffer from an untreated mental illness. That amount is so large because of our country's deinstitutionalization.

Deinstitutionalization is the process of replacing psychiatric hospitals with community health services, or in most cases, outright closing them with no alternative. This began in America in the 50s and continues to this day, giving less and less outlets of support to those in need. The reason deinstitutionalization began was due to the mistreatment of patients and inhumane living conditions. Instead of reforming the system, shutting down institutions and replacing them with community led services became the quick fix. Unfortunately, the quick fix has yet to be replaced with anything better, and the issue has been largely brushed aside. With deinstitutionalization continuing, the population of untreated mentally ill homeless will only increase if nothing is done. Until a change happens, the least we can do is not assume the worst of those in need and help when we can because these people are suffering internally and externally.


Sources:
https://mentalillnesspolicy.org/consequences/homeless-mentally-ill.html

https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/never-ending-loop-homelessness-psychiatric-disorder-and-mortality

https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.8.4.184

https://blanchethouse.org/portlands-homelessness-crisis-one-mans-path-out/#:~:text=The%20same%20study%20found%20that,37.5%25%20from%20substance%20abuse%20disorders.

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