Mental Health And Violence -- A Product Of Deregulation
We don't know why Mr. Stevenson's death comes as a surprise to anyone. If one follows the "deregulation" of the mental-health system in this country since the 1960s, one can see this result as a logical consequence.
The theory had some interesting points. If society could "mainstream" people - allow them to live within the communities and provide good, adequate treatment - then people would be happier and money would be saved. The theory was put into practice. People were released from the institutions and hospitals were either shut down or put on skeleton crews. Thus the first half of the plan was implemented.
It seems to us the problems mounted as the second part of the plan failed to materialize. We had thousands of mentally ill and developmentally disabled people in the community. We failed to provide good, adequate treatment for them then and we still continue on this path today. By charting this course, we fail both the patient and the society around him.
As past mental health practitioners, we can attest that with the current structure the task of providing quality care to mental-health clients is overwhelming and extraordinarily frustrating.
Another point to consider is the incredible legal bind mental health professionals face in trying to see that severely mentally ill clients get lasting help. Hospitalizing people is getting harder and harder. In a laudable effort to protect the rights of clients, society has effectively tied the hands of the very people trying to help. It's difficult to evaluate everyone who needs it due to understaffing, difficult to detain anyone due to laws designed to keep people out of the hospitals and difficult to keep people in the hospital due to the legal and economic push to get them out on the streets again.
Please don't misunderstand. Not all mental-health clients need to be hospitalized. However, when they are a threat to themselves and others around them, protection and care need to be available, not stymied and withheld. The system as it stands lets down both the perpetrator and the victims. Let's be reasonable. Melanie Martin and Sue Brennen Former mental-health practitioners Seattle