Mental Institutions and the Mentally Ill

Comparing the views on mental illness about a hundred years ago and the views on it now, I cannot help but see the considerable difference in how people have changed their views on what mental illness is. In the United States of America many of the reforms made for the mentally ill have helped the public realize the importance of maintaining and keeping the mentally ill in a stable and positive environment.
Well into the late 1800’s, mental illness was viewed as a disease of personal failing or spiritual disease (often people thought that a person who was mentally ill was possessed by the devil) that was incurable. Thus, the mentally unstable often were found homeless, in jail, workhouses, almshouses or institutions. Back then there were very few mental institutions in America and it wasn’t until the very end of the 18th century that the first form of treatment was introduced into America (previously practiced in Europe). This reform, known as the “moral treatment”, stated the idea that mental illness can be treated by relocating an individual to an asylum to receive psychological treatment and a controlled environment. Thus this reform was the one that made an increase in asylums in America possible.
After the Civil War thought, the asylums grew overcrowded (due to the men with postwar trauma) and the quality of care decreased significantly. Physicians would not have a proper training and end up giving wrong diagnosis to patients, the institutions grew overly crowded and many times the patients were abused and ill treated by the doctors themselves or by viewers that would pay a penny (the money went to the asylum, to help with the covering of all medical expenses, for the income received was not enough) to go see the “crazies”, as if they were circus animals instead of humans. Shock therapy, restraints, hypnosis and a new drug they called opium were introduced to these patients during this era.
During the beginning of the progressive era, newspapers started revealing to the public the inhuman conditions in which the asylums local welfare institutions cared for the mentally ill, thus provoking reformers to form National Committee on Mental Hygiene. Thus the new reform known as the “mental hygiene” completely changed the way the public viewed the mentally ill. Instead of viewing a mental illness as a spiritual disease, it was approached on a more physical approach. New science was practiced on patients. New medicine, better treatment and community support was first established during the progressive era. Psychiatric units were incorporated in general hospitals, moving mental health care into the mainstream of health care; making it possible for mentally ill people to not be isolated in an institution.
Two other reforms were done for mental health after the progressive era; the “community mental health” reform, which favored social integration for the mentally ill, and the “community support” reform, treated mental illness as a social welfare problem. I believe that, without the huge scientific approach in the progressive era, we would have not changed our way of seeing the mentally ill as a spiritual problem, and we would have not made so many medical advances that we have made now for the mentally ill, enabling them to live a normal life and not be secluded in an institution. Thanks to the muckrakers that revealed the inhuman treatment the many people faced in the institutions, we have been able to learn to respect the mentally ill and treat them how they should be treated; like humans.
I think that the treatment that patients who the mentally ill receive is much better than how they were treated a hundred years ago, but I think that our society is lacking the one technique that would prove sustainability to the whole community; to fully integrate and educate kids, teaching them how to communicate with people who are mentally ill, and have them interact with them and get used to being around them. That way, a child will learn that someone who is mentally ill is as human as they are, and the person who is mentally ill can learn communication skills from other people his or her age, making it more possible for him or her to be able to live more independently in the future.

Letter to the editor

Dear Editor:
I was very interested in the different views that were in the article about Initiative 1000. After reading the article, I was inspired to research a bit more on the subject so I could get a good idea of what it is about.
Even thought I have researched quite a bit about the Iniatitive 1000, it was very hard for me to form a decision about which side I am on. If I am for it or against it. Here is why:
On one hand, I can understand why some terminally ill people would want to die with dignity and no pain. If the Initiative 100 were made legal, terminally ill people would be able to die at home where they feel comfortable and without pain; not in a hospital surrounded in great pain and surrounded by strangers.
But on the other hand, there is a fact that always makes me reconsider, and that is if, against all odds, you could survive. There is always a chance of surviving, even if it is called a terminally ill disease. Saying yes to the Death with Dignity act could possibly allow the people who – even if it were very unlikely – might live, put themselves to death. Saying yes to the Initiative 1000 could possibly allow people to die, when they could have actually recovered against all odds.
Therefore, even thought I comprehend and even agree to the reasons that people give in favor of the Initiative 1000, I will have to trust my conscience and vote against it. There is always a chance of surviving, for miracles happen when least expected. I am going to stick to 1% of surviving a terminal illness.

Vote for Ford!!!!

The Watergate affected all the people of America. How could a president do such a thing? How could he violate the country's laws? Those thoughts could be heard quite clearly all over the nation. That year was 1973, the year that I, gerald R. Ford, Vice President of the United States, took over as president when Richard Nixon resigned.

Looking back, one can see me previous sucess and strenghs. I graduated from law school on the top third of my class in 1941, earned ten battle stars since when I joined The Navy in 1942, was elected to congress in 1948 and have been re-elected twelve times and became a chairman of The House Republican Conference in 1963.

In 1975 I ordered the evacuation of the reaining Americans in Vietnam. I have always tried to avoid wars at all cost. As you know, when I was president, the U.S. did not get involved in any new war, which brought a great relief to many americans.

As I point out these issues, you will realize that I, right now I can help solve your problems and asure a great satisfaction and pride of America that many have lost for various reasons.

I will support national security, and try to fight with words, not arms. I will fight for equality and rights for the legal immigrants, rewarding them for coming legally. I will support capitalism, letting everyone start his own bussiness whenever and wherever they like, without the goverment being involved in ones private bussiness.

I will do whats best for my country, and my countries people. I will strive for world peace, and vow to try my best in spreading the example of equality and democracy all around the world.

Thank you =)

Department of Health and Human Services Speech

The Department of Health and Human Services:

Would increase the quality of health and the price. We would make public healthcare more accesible for everyone.

We support the medical research organization, that researches possible cures for cancer, AIDs, Alzheimer´s disease, heart ailments, etc.

We think that we should increase the funds for the food and drug administration, so as to have more equipment and resources to assure the safety of foods and toys (the reason for why I put toys is because of the China incident. When they sent manufactured toys that had been painted with some kind of paint that contained a poisonuos quemical).

We think that we should maintain funds for the Center for Disease Control and prevention (CDC), so as to prevent possible outbreaks in the country.

Support adoption agencies, because by supporting adoption agencies we help prevent abortions and homeless children and make sure that children are placed in a well functioning and caring family.

Support increase in funds for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and funds for programs that help prevent child abuse and domestic violence.
Support health programs for Native Americans.

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