The groups of people who were most adversely affected by deinstitutionalization were:
• Existing patients
Those patients who have been discharged because of deinstitutionalization were affected as they were released into the community without adequate preparation or a support network being put into place. A large proportion of the patients who were discharged ended up with criminal records because of this fact. Some also became homeless as they found it difficult to hold down jobs, and therefore pay for housing. Some struggled to look after themselves because of the lack of a strong support network being put in place.
• Members of the community
The existing members of communities were affected because of the lack of support network, and other preparations being put into place. The patients were seen as a threat to the existing members of the community, and this had an adverse effect on the way they lived their lives, some were fearful of the patients after their discharge, whilst others treated them with contempt.
• The "Psychiatric" community
The fact that a number of people were discharged led to them setting up home in similar areas, leading to a community of people who could not look after themselves, without the necessary support that should have been present before the patients were discharged.
• Families of the patients
The families of discharged patients were affected as even though the majority of them wanted to help, they did not have the necessary skills to be able to do so, and this put them into danger. The discharged patients could often be aggressive and volatile towards family members trying to help them, as they believed that they didn't need help from anybody, this is a knock-on effect of the conditions of mental illness.
• Existing patients
Those patients who have been discharged because of deinstitutionalization were affected as they were released into the community without adequate preparation or a support network being put into place. A large proportion of the patients who were discharged ended up with criminal records because of this fact. Some also became homeless as they found it difficult to hold down jobs, and therefore pay for housing. Some struggled to look after themselves because of the lack of a strong support network being put in place.
• Members of the community
The existing members of communities were affected because of the lack of support network, and other preparations being put into place. The patients were seen as a threat to the existing members of the community, and this had an adverse effect on the way they lived their lives, some were fearful of the patients after their discharge, whilst others treated them with contempt.
• The "Psychiatric" community
The fact that a number of people were discharged led to them setting up home in similar areas, leading to a community of people who could not look after themselves, without the necessary support that should have been present before the patients were discharged.
• Families of the patients
The families of discharged patients were affected as even though the majority of them wanted to help, they did not have the necessary skills to be able to do so, and this put them into danger. The discharged patients could often be aggressive and volatile towards family members trying to help them, as they believed that they didn't need help from anybody, this is a knock-on effect of the conditions of mental illness.
