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Mental handicap policy in Great Britain: the advent and demise of the institution
Author(s) -
GOSTIN LARRY
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of the british institute of mental handicap (apex)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1468-3156
pISSN - 0261-9997
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3156.1982.tb00026.x
Subject(s) - mental handicap , demise , institution , government (linguistics) , stock (firearms) , political science , public administration , medicine , psychiatry , history , law , linguistics , philosophy , archaeology
At no time in Britain's history has the function and purpose of mental handicap hospitals been so seriously questioned and their future so imperilled. Recent policy documents have been produced to try to devise methods for phasing out the institution and for developing a full range of community services in its place (DHSS, 1980, 1981). It is, therefore, appropriate to take stock of mental handicap policy. This paper briefly traces the development of the institution and its subsequent “medicalisation”, and looks at the future of mental handicap hospitals and social obstacles which may prevent the implementation of government policy. Finally, it suggests that, although these institutions may disappear they will leave a legacy which could pose serious problems for mentally handicapped people in the future.