Exclusion of the Mentally Ill

The Use and Efficacy of Psychiatric Presentence Reports

“…It is apparent, however, that a substantial proportion of offenders remanded in custody are petty recidivists, charged with minor vagrancy, drunkenness or like offences, frequently with prior periods of psychiatric hospitalization who constitute the "stage army" (Soothill, 1974: 189) or "social nuisance" (Gibbens, Soothill and Pope, 1977: 36), type of case who enter the revolving door of arrest, court appearance, remand in custody, and then release forthwith or after yet another brief period of hospitalization. This would seem to be confirmed by observations in America, that upon tightening of civil commitment to mental hospital procedures the criminal justice system fills the void as a means of sweeping "social nuisances" from the streets (Aviram and Segal, 1973;Bonovitz and Guy, 1979), and in the Southampton study in England by Faulk and Trafford, that the medical remand in prison serves various functions not necessarily associated with psychiatric treatment, viz, bail hostel or acute alcoholic ward (1975: 279). These authors conclude that the medical remand in prison makes a useful contribution in this sense, to the organization of psychiatric care.…”

Stereotypes of mental illness: A comparison with ethnic stereotypes

“…To be sure, some people do seem to profit from their treatment. But clinicians must acknowledge that considerable stigma still surrounds most diagnosis and treatment and that the major modes of treatment may entail serious risks for the patient -both medical and psychosocial (Carpenter et al 1977;Asnis et al 1977;Mattes et al 1977;Friedberg 1975;Aviram and Segal 1973). Since public and professional conceptions do play such crucial roles in inducting people into this system and charting their course through it, these conceptions cannot be considered irrelevant.…”

How stigma interferes with mental health care.

“…People with mental illness are frequently unable to obtain good jobs or find suitable housing because of the prejudice of key members in their communities: employers and landlords. Several studies have shown that public stereotypes and prejudice about mental illness have a deleterious impact on obtaining and keeping good jobs (Bordieri & Drehmer, 1986; Farina & Felner, 1973; Farina, Felner, & Bourdreau, 1973; Link, 1982, 1987; Olshansky, Grab, & Ekdhal, 1960; Wahl, 1999; Webber & Orcutt, 1984) and leasing safe housing (Aviram & Segal, 1973; Farina, Thaw, Lovern, & Mangone, 1974; R. Hogan, 1985a, 1985b; Page, 1977, 1983, 1995; Segal, Baumohl, & Moyles, 1980; Wahl, 1999).…”