From Deinstitutionalization to Today: The History of the Modern Mental Health Crisis

Abstract

Treatment for those with mental health conditions has been influenced by many factors and changes in the field. One such change which shifted mental health treatment drastically was the deinstitutionalization movement in the United States during the 1950s. This movement advocated for the closing of state mental hospitals in favor of community-based resources to help those with mental illnesses. While hospitals were seen as restricting, community resources were seen as more conducive to recovery. This was a well-intentioned but failed initiative which led to negative outcomes for the area of mental health treatment throughout the country. This paper outlines the history of deinstitutionalization in the U.S. and its repercussions, and examines how this movement has led to the mental health crisis seen across the country. The state of mental health in St. Louis County, Minnesota is the focus, and the various services available and future improvements to be made are described.