From Asylum to Community

More about the book

The book examines the significant shift in mental health policy post-World War II, highlighting the transition from large public hospitals to alternative care settings, often leaving the severely mentally ill without adequate support. Grob details the rapid growth of community psychiatric services and advancements in treatment that allowed many to live normal lives. However, the focus on broad population care led to neglect of the most vulnerable individuals, resulting in social issues and homelessness. The author advocates for reevaluating these policies to find better solutions for the seriously ill.