Deinstitutionalization: Psychiatry and Community

Kim Cutrona
September 14, 2012
HSM/210
TEEBE NEGASI

1. How did deinstitutionalization affect the local community in your article?
After reading this article I found the community to be affected drastically. Crime rates increased and people were angry so something had to be done. By deinstitutionalizing, we are not allowing the people who need the help to get it. In this case, a mentally ill patient was out unsupervised and set fire to downtown building. This fire resulting in two women killed and many angry residences in the community. Drastic changes needed to be made. Community viewpoint is extremely important. Media can get a hold of information and start articles from the mentally ill person who is constantly being disruptive in the community. The community can get annoyed at the same disturbance and result in calling the police. All these things are legit and can cause some great difficulties within the community. Although these are problems for communities, the mental health system has not devoted resources to study the aspects of deinstitutionalization or to trying a variety of systematic community intervention that may alleviate some of the stress. The continuation of conflicts between the community, the clients, and the mental health system could be the major reason why the process of deinstitutionalization has failed. The community and the mental health system need to work together to find a solution.

2. How is the local community dealing with related problems, such as homelessness, crime, and the spread of communicable diseases?
After a major disturbance from an unsupervised mentally ill patient that resulted in killing two women, the community needed to take action. The community tried for many years to work with the mental health system to come up with a solution and nothing was moving forward. They finally were able to come up with something, and needed to get the mayor on board. Finally, after months of long meetings the mayor was on board and came up with a good plan. Their plans set forward had some goals for the task force.. 1. To promote greater cooperation among all agencies that deal with deinstitutionalized clients. 2. To review specific cases of the above in order to identify each participating agency 's role and to designate more efficient modes of operation. 3. To identify cases where no agency or department has jurisdiction and to assess what else can be done or who else can be involved. 4. To review policy and legislation that impairs the community 's capacity to deal with those who create a problem for the community. It took a year to understand and accept the implication to respect the patient’s right to refuse treatment. The community that deal with deinstitutionalization have come to know each other better and have found more ways to cooperatively work together.

References

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Editorial. The Community and Deinstitutionalization: A Model for Working With Municipalities.
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Authors: Wolff, Thomas
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Source: Journal of Community Psychology; Apr86, Vol. 14 Issue 2, p228-233, 6p

References: ------------------------------------------------- Editorial. The Community and Deinstitutionalization: A Model for Working With Municipalities. ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- Authors: Wolff, Thomas ------------------------------------------------- Source: Journal of Community Psychology; Apr86, Vol. 14 Issue 2, p228-233, 6p