From Asylums to Sidewalks POLL
In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation that led to the widespread closure of state-run mental institutions. The goal was to move toward more humane, community-based mental health care. However, the promised funding and infrastructure never materialized, leaving many with serious mental illnesses without proper treatment. Over the years, this has contributed to rising homelessness and increased encounters between the mentally ill and law enforcement—who are often unequipped to handle psychiatric crises. Today, there’s renewed debate about whether institutional care, in some form, should return as part of the mental health system.
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