General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The Reagan deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill and the incredible increase of crime in the US [View all]HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)And steadily grew after WWII. It rapidly expanded after the Community Mental Health Act of 1963 (CMHA) (also known as Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act, Mental Retardation Facilities and Construction Act, Public Law 88-164, or the Mental Retardation and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963). The CMHA was signed by JFK.
Blaming Reagan has become popular but is a rewritten narrative of history. The serious global recession of 57-58, followed by it's double dip in 60-61 caused many states to look for ways to eliminate costs. For many state governments the CMHA provided a mechanism to reduce costs of operating mental hospitals under the cover of an argument from -inside- the mental health care industry; where voices argued better outcomes were available for most patients through community-based care.
While Reagan's administration certainly pushed for reduction in social welfare the closing of mental hospitals was well underway by the 1980's.