TAC - Treatment Advocacy Center’s Post

Deinstitutionalization was an ambitious attempt to change how we treated those with mental illness and developmental challenges. The unintended consequence of changing how we provide and pay for care on the governmental side is a lack of low and free treatment options now.

What has happened is a national disgrace.

We have NO psychiatric bed shortage in my area. We have many freestanding psychiatric hospitals that are trying to fill their empty beds. There’s a failure of national advocacy to recognize the desperate need for subacute living facilities. Not only would this be more humane and cost-effective, it also serves as a pressure valve to open up acute beds for those who truly need them. People with long-term chronic serious mental illnesses should not be in acute beds. Yet, because appropriate levels of care are not available, I find myself having to steer patients not safe to live in community into such antiquated modalities all the time. I realize that not all states are at the same level of infrastructure. Some are ahead and some are behind our region in Louisiana. However, the Canary in the coal mine is everywhere you look. Not rocket science.

Urban sidewalks are not full yet. There is still room if bring shopping cart and bedding. When full - in the eyes of city officials - maybe beds will open up. I don't believe hospitals have been torn down but just closed or extremely downsized.

Unfortunately bed shortages are prevalent as much, or more, at lower levels. Such is the case at IMD's(institutions for mental disease). Many times people are stuck in acute psychiatric settings because of low bed availability at lower levels of care that are more proper for them after they have been psychiatrically stabilized. Acute psychiatric settings cost, per person, in the tens of thousands each month. Bed availability at lower levels would not only help the patient, first and foremost, but alleviate the financial and economic impact in unnecessarily keeping patients in the higher levels of psychiatric care.

Im reposting this now as we move to remove the homeless from the streets and parks, thinking that putting them under a roof is so much better. Without addressing their individual situation; SUD, SMI, domestic abuse, PTSD, etc, a roof does not help. They are still not here. In many cases the place will get trashed and they will walk out. And you will wonder why in total ignorance. All deserve the humanity of a proper medical psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis and if needed hospitalization, yes a psych bed for as long as required. Not 5 to 10 days. It took my brother over 2 years. It saved his life. What are we doing??!! Pathfinderjohn.com