History of Mental Institutions

October 23, 2011 4:58 PM

I'm looking for a book about the de-institutionalization of mental hospitals in the US.

I've been googling and browsing some booksellers online, but I would love to hear Mefi's reccomendations.

I'm looking for something like an oral history of mental hospitals in the states with a focus on the reasons for and effects of de-institutionalization, esp. the 50s, 60s and 70s. Doesn't have to be an oral history, that's just what popped into my head when I thought "wow I need to know more about this RIGHT NOW."

posted by kittensofthenight to Media & Arts (4 answers total)

Best answer: In his younger days, Geraldo Rivera exposed the Willowbrook institution, and the truly horrific conditions that existed for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Geraldo's book, Willowbrook: A report on how it is and why it doesn't have to be that way, is graphic and heartbreaking. I realize he became kind of a joke as an investigative journalist, but his expose on Willowbrook led to sweeping changes in the care of vulnerable populations and led to the de-institutionalization movement.
posted by kbar1 at 5:59 PM on October 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

Best answer: For the contemporary effects of deinstitutionalization, I like Emptying Beds, an anthropologist's description of the operations of a psychiatric ER (where many individuals who were previously institutionalized now have most of their contacts with the mental health system).

Chapter 4 specifically describes why some of the unit staff had worked for deinstitutionalization, what they hoped it would look like, and what actually happened.
posted by synchronia at 6:25 PM on October 23, 2011 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Interesting. I was also intrigued by this book. But I think I want more of an academic view. I'll look for Emptying Beds at the library.
posted by kittensofthenight at 1:00 PM on October 25, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks Mefi!
posted by kittensofthenight at 1:00 PM on October 25, 2011