The homeless mentally ill. The perspective of the American Psychiatric Association
H. R. Lamb and J. A. Talbott
The homeless mentally ill have become one of the greatest problems of
present-day society. The American Psychiatric Association's Task Force on
the Homeless Mentally Ill concluded that this is not the result of
deinstitutionalization per se but of the way it has been carried out;
homelessness among the chronically and severely mentally ill is symptomatic
of the grave problems facing them generally in this country. Thus, the
problem will not be solved until the basic underlying problems are
addressed and a comprehensive and integrated system of care for the
chronically mentally ill is established. Specific recommendations of the
Task Force include an ample range of graded, supervised community housing;
comprehensive and accessible psychiatric care and rehabilitation; the
availability of general medical assessment and care, crisis services, and a
dependable source of income; a system of case management in which one
mental health worker is responsible for each patient; changes in commitment
laws to make them more responsive to clinical needs; coordination between
the various community resources; and ongoing asylum and sanctuary for that
small proportion who require it.
