[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Mark Henry

Lobotomies aside (IIRC in canada was stopped early 50's) , it wasn't as bad as the movies made out. Chemical restraint was better than physical or letting them self harm and/or beat the crap out of other patients, electro shock is still used, much lower levels, but it does work, etc. Treatments, just as in the whole medical field, have improved vastly.

Most of the public do not understand mental issues whatsoever. Individual freedom is a crock with mental illness, these are sick people.

My wife works in the psychiatric field.

Yeah, but when many don't want to clean up and find a job, what do you do then? Lock them up? Is that really a better answer?

Locally we have a lot of available resources for the homeless, help is available to those who want help. For many it is really a lifestyle choice, though I agree that some sort of mental illness or other issues are a contributing factor. Fortunately this seems to be less of a midwest problem.