The sketchy history of institutionalizing people shouldn't stand in the way of genuine medical treatment. Yes, putting women into counseling for 'hysteria' was ridiculous, but so is thinking someone with schizophrenia living on the streets has made a lifestyle choice.
From the research I've seen the rate of severe, not mild, mental illness among the homeless population is estimated to be as high as one third. These are not people who are making choices in any sound state of mind, they actually need to be put in medical care, not because they're dangerous but for their own sake.
> The sketchy history of institutionalizing people shouldn't stand in the way of genuine medical treatment.
It seems like it should in some way. For example, required ethics classes for the practitioners would limit who is allowed to apply such treatments. A bad history should at least prevent further bad history.
Also, in the US a lot of people with mental problems end up in prison eventually. So I think it’s a bit foolish to pretend that it’s ethical to not institutionalize in mental health facilities only to put them a few months later into a prison.
At least in Germany the treatment by itself is also not mandatory in a psychiatric clinic, but one can be held there for example in order to prevent suicide. Then it’s up to staff to convince patients of a treatment plan, they have to agree to that for the hospital to start treating. Until then the hospital is pretty limited in administering anything.
But befor the conversation details into ethics questions of forced institutionalizations. I think it’s worthwhile to point out that easy access to mental health is for everyone in society is of utmost importance. I can only assume but I think a lot of people on the street wouldn’t be there if they had seen a psychologist earlier on, if they had not started to self-medicate with alcohol and drugs. It’s beyond me why rich nations in the west don’t promote early intervention much more
From the research I've seen the rate of severe, not mild, mental illness among the homeless population is estimated to be as high as one third. These are not people who are making choices in any sound state of mind, they actually need to be put in medical care, not because they're dangerous but for their own sake.