The Decline of Mental Hospitals, 1950s

The movement of mental health care from mental hospitals to treatment in outpatient settings and nursing homes  began in the 1950s.  Here is how it happened. “The field of medicine where the ‘rediscovery of community’ found an immediately welcome reception was mental health services.  A movement away from mental hospitals had already begun in the…

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Spending

Although somewhat outdated, this report by Mark et al. (2007) provides a glimpse at trends in mental health and substance abuse (MHSA) spending. National expenditures for the treatment of MHSA disorders amounted to $121 billion in 2003, up from $70 billion in 1993.  The average annual rate of (5.6%) was somewhat slower than spending growth…