Question

Changes in the treatment of people with abnormal behavior have coincided with social change and medical understanding. What changes do you think might happen in the next 10–20 years?

Answer 1

Treatment of people with abnormal behaviour have coincided with social change and medical understanding.It was once believed that people with the psychological disorders or those exhibiting strange behaviour were possessed by demons.These people were forced to take part in exorcisms,were imprisoned and executed.Later,asylums were built to house the mentally ill but the patient recieved little or no treatments and many of the methods used were cruel.Philleppe Pinel and Dorothea Dix argued for more humane treatment of the people with psychological disorders.In the mid 1960s the deinstitutionalisation movement gained support and asylums were closed enabling people with mental illness to return home and recieve treatment in their own communities.Earlier people used to shame while discussing about the topics of mental illness and health and they tend to avoid to consult a psychologist or psychaitrist.

Today,Instead of asylums there are psychiatrist hospitals run by state governments and local community community hospitals with the emphasis on short-term stays.However most people suffering from mental illness are not hospitalized.A person suffering symptoms could speak with a primary care physician who most likely would refer him to someone who speacialises in therapy.The persoon can recieve outpatient mental health services from variety of sources including psychologists,psychiatrists,marriage and family therapists,School counsellors,clinical social workers and religious personnel. So the trend to mental health has been completely changed.Now people are talking about mental health opening and consulting professionals to seek help.

After 10-20 years the concept of mental health will entirely change.People with the time will become more open-minded and will broad their way of thinking.Just as all people are consulting physicians for their physical health they will also consult mental health professionals for mental health.The awareness would also be broadened.