Deinstitutionalization from mental hospitals has
been with us for over fifty years now in Australia
and the United States of America. Growing expenses
in keeping mental institutions open made ideas of
community care attractive to the Governments footing
the bills for the mental institutions. However,
funding for appropriate levels of community support
were never forthcoming. Costs have fallen instead on
people with mental illness, on their families and
carers, and on other institutions such as homeless
shelters and jails. The costs have wound up being
heavier than the savings.
been with us for over fifty years now in Australia
and the United States of America. Growing expenses
in keeping mental institutions open made ideas of
community care attractive to the Governments footing
the bills for the mental institutions. However,
funding for appropriate levels of community support
were never forthcoming. Costs have fallen instead on
people with mental illness, on their families and
carers, and on other institutions such as homeless
shelters and jails. The costs have wound up being
heavier than the savings.