That sounds like a really positive result from a horrible occurrence. Mental health care is woefully underfunded in much of the US. Here in Florida they have 24 hours to place someone at a facility after they've been medically discharged, and they still have trouble. Most places that can take people have a very limited number of beds that are already filled, which in turn causes pressure to discharge people potentially prematurely to open up new beds.
The health insurance situation only exacerbates that: there might be 5 facilities in the area that can take people, but only 1 that can take the uninsured. Florida is one of the states that "wisely" chose not to do a Medicaid expansion, and so if you're poor but without a diagnosed, processed, shortlisted disability, you're uninsured. Hilariously federal subsidies for buying coverage only kick in if you're making some high percentage of the poverty line, which people with mental health issues often have trouble reaching a fraction of that.
Oh and to add to that for the one available facility they used the Room 101 description from Orwell's 1984 as inspiration. No windows. Smoothed concrete floors. Echoing cries and screams. Blood. Food barely fit for animal consumption. And of course nothing helpful like any sort of talk therapy. Psychiatrist in residence once a day for 30 minutes, allotting on average 30 seconds per patient. Sleeping in cots on the floor. Sitting against the wall for hours with nothing to do but stare. If you've never experienced it before it becomes pretty clear pretty quick how much meaningful care is provided to unprivileged people suffering from mental health issues in this country.
The health insurance situation only exacerbates that: there might be 5 facilities in the area that can take people, but only 1 that can take the uninsured. Florida is one of the states that "wisely" chose not to do a Medicaid expansion, and so if you're poor but without a diagnosed, processed, shortlisted disability, you're uninsured. Hilariously federal subsidies for buying coverage only kick in if you're making some high percentage of the poverty line, which people with mental health issues often have trouble reaching a fraction of that.
Oh and to add to that for the one available facility they used the Room 101 description from Orwell's 1984 as inspiration. No windows. Smoothed concrete floors. Echoing cries and screams. Blood. Food barely fit for animal consumption. And of course nothing helpful like any sort of talk therapy. Psychiatrist in residence once a day for 30 minutes, allotting on average 30 seconds per patient. Sleeping in cots on the floor. Sitting against the wall for hours with nothing to do but stare. If you've never experienced it before it becomes pretty clear pretty quick how much meaningful care is provided to unprivileged people suffering from mental health issues in this country.