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Letters to the Editor
Published Online: 6 January 2006

Crisis in Care

Prasanna K. Pati, M.DAuthors Info & Affiliations
Publication: Psychiatric News
Volume 41, Number 1
https://doi.org/10.1176/pn.41.1.0035a
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It was disturbing to read the article “Abuse Said to Be Rampant in Turkey's Mental Hospitals” in the November 18, 2005, issue. The group Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI), which prepared the report on Turkey's psychiatric hospitals, should plan follow-up visits in a couple of years to monitor whether there has been any progress. I hope the MDRI will also plan similar visits to India in the near future.
While reading this story, I thought about the mental health situation in the United States in 2005. In my view it is worse than abusive. Here are the facts:
•
Jails have become mini mental institutions, and the Los Angeles County Jail may be the biggest so-called psychiatric facility in the country.
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There are homeless psychiatric patients all over the country, some probably with dual diagnoses.
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A shortage of)psychiatric beds exists all over the country.
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Millions of people are unable to access psychiatric care, thus becoming“ chronic” and going the “disability route.”
I have a serious suggestion, that is, that the MDRI conduct a survey of the homeless in the Washington, D.C., area and arrange survey visits to all the correctional facilities.

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Psychiatric News
Volume 41 • Number 1 • January 6, 2006
Pages: 35

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Published online: 6 January 2006
Published in print: January 6, 2006

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Prasanna K. Pati, M.D
Salem, Ore.
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