Social Policy and Mental Illness

FAIN: FA-10497-72

Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8559)
Gerald N. Grob (Project Director: September 1972 to present)

To provide a broad and meaningful background to contemporary issues involving mental health and mental illness. A deeper knowledge of American society generally can be gained from an in-depth analysis of the ways in which that society defines mental illness and cares for this particular dependent group. Focuses specifically on the history of institutional care of the mentally ill. Project is a case study of an even broader problem, i.e. how does a society formulate policy in regard to dependents of all varieties (sick, aged, young, unemployed, etc.). Given the current magnitude of welfare problems, an analysis of social policy toward mental illness should provide some needed historical perspectives.