Wednesday, May 20, 2009 Ekozan01 asks

Q: Does anyone with sz think a new, positive, instituationalization movement would be beneficial?

Hello, i am a social work student studying psychotic disorders and mental health. I was wondering if anyone with sz thought that if a new, positive, institutionalization movement would be beneficial? I have been studying severe mental illnesses for a long time and it is clear to me that there is not enough in place for people with mental health needs, especially those coming out of prison. In my research i have discovered that currently HALF of the people coming out of prison each year have a mental illness and often end up back in prison due to a lack of resources available to the public. Honestly, i believe many of these people dont belong in prison in the first place but there is no where else for them to go, and no one else to take care of them. I also know that people with a mental illness coming out of prison are by far not the only ones in need of menatl health community resources.

That's why i was wondering what you thought about a new, positive, institutionalization movement. One with out the abuse, and always aimed at reintegration back into the community with lots of supports avaliable like activities, education about mental illnesses, therapists, a club house setting, even job training and placement opportunities. Currently, many without support resort to living on the street, in homeless shelters, or in prison. wouldn't this be a better alternative?

Thank you so much for your input, i am open to all suggestions, positive or negitive, it all helps be better understand how i can help others.

Emily

Answers (3)

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Christina Bruni

5/20/09 1:56pm

Hi Emily,

Yes, well I wrote you privately that NIMBY is alive and well: Not In My Backyard. A new residence was slated to open in St. George, Staten Island, and the elected officials put the quash on it after neighbors complained about the "crazies" moving in.

It should always be the "least restrictive setting," and that is a legal requirement as well as a compassionate requirement, too.

I don't think institutions are the answer. Institutions, by their very nature, seem like warehouses to me. However, with the right advocates, resources, staff and treatment included, institutions could possibly make a comeback.

The problem is, there aren't enough acute care beds in hospitals, either.

Regards,

Christina

David Robbins

5/21/09 4:49am

Recently I ran across a former employee that worked in the state pych hospital. We got to talking and she said that the hospital is now "a country club."

I've had the opportunity to speak to the patients and see the changes in the physical settings. The hospital of my day was never anything like it is now. It is a more comfortable setting. There are groups now. The turn is towards educating the patients.

Unfortunately the patients I spoke to, seem to NOT want help. There was a gentleman that I knew back in my day as a patient there, that is saying the same things he did 20 years ago.

I am torn by your question. I said before that I'm for institutionalization. There will always be a need for psych hospitals. Having seen the "inside" I wonder if they (the staff) are beating their heads, trying to help those people. The patients that I saw are there because there is no where else to keep them safe. WE called people like that "lifers."

The patients that I talked to were not receptive to help. 10 of them fell asleep. The rest were frustrated to be in that room listening to me.

So maybe it is a "country club."

There needs to be more community support. There used to be a community county run day program. When the money dropped out, the program was cut, leaving many MI's without any support.

I think that there needs to be housing, social, and educational support. But the bottom line is, there's not enough money.

It's sad that there's a price tag on the MI's.

Dave

sunfire

5/23/09 11:29pm

My opinion is that no new institutions are not the answer. I think that counselors in prisons could possible refer newly released prisoners who have sz and no where to go, no one to turn to be suggested to group homes that are ran by counselors etc can encourage meds and for those who have been housed in prisons for years help them learn the ropes to society and either help them get jobs or Social Security or SSI or retirement. Helping them integrate back into society and helping them by helping them find permanent housing like land and a trailer or house. Having group meetings and one on one meetings sometimes while at the group house. By no means should anyone be made to live in institutions that would be like prison or guilty of something that the person will not likely do before they do anything wrong. CoMMunist would kindof be like that used to be sounds like, Science projects. And after those people serve their time in prison it should be their choice to choose group houses or not. Those people however should be encouraged to take thier meds and talked to like people not just schizo's. Want to mention something that is kindof off the subject. There once was a test I heard about two people who did'nt really have and mental illness signed themselves into several different mental hospitals over a period of years they would always be diagnosed usually with different diagnoses they always was themselves while they where there and did not try to seem like they had an illness. Well one of them sometimes would be diagnosed sz and when that happened they noticed that they where treated very different by staff after a diagnoses the other guy noticed that always to that the one diagnosed with depression or something different the person that suppposedly had depression was treated better and even was talked to one on one when the one that supposedly had sz was treated unfair and treated very different. I heard this on a documentary a few year back.

Q: Does anyone with sz think a new, positive, instituationalization movement would be beneficial?

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