Deinstitutionalization policy has affected inpatient psychiatric care
Deinstitutionalization policy has affected inpatient psychiatric care
Deinstitutionalization, a multi-stage process, resulted from a shift in policy. Deinstitutionalization allowed individuals with chronic, severe mental illness to move out of state mental hospitals into community-based settings. Between 1955 and 1980, the resident population of state hospitals dropped from 559,000 to 154,000 in the United States (Koyanagi, 2007). By 1990, state hospitals began closing completely throughout the United States.
Although deinstitutionalization sought to improve care for those with mental illness, progress has been slow. Moving patients out of state institutions has placed greater burdens on family members and increased the demand for funding and resources to care for those with mental illness. A shift toward community-based care has increased the role of social workers in community mental health.
To prepare for this Discussion:
Consider trends in mental health issues and mental health care. Review this week’s resources and focus on the debate about the deinstitutionalization policy in mental health care.
BY DAY 3
Post a brief explanation of how the deinstitutionalization policy has affected inpatient psychiatric care. Then, explain how the policy affects the roles of psychiatric social workers in providing care for patients with mental illness. Considering the policy, explain the challenges and issues caregivers face when caring for individuals with mental illness. Identify three resources (provide name and web address) available in your local area (county or state) to support patients with mental illness and caregivers. Explain whether these resources are adequate to meet the needs of mental illness patients and caregivers. Justify your response.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the resources and the current literature using appropriate APA format and style.
You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.
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The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.
