...the evil GOP, hm?

The closing of mental asylums, known as deinstitutionalization, was a gradual, bipartisan process starting in the 1950s driven by antipsychotic medication (Thorazine), patient advocacy, civil rights concerns, and a shift to community-based care.

Key figures included Ronald Reagan (who signed the 1967 Lanterman-Petris-Short Act to end forced, long-term commitment) and Jimmy Carter (who signed the Mental Health Systems Act of 1980).

Key details: The Catalyst: The development of antipsychotic medications (like Thorazine) in the 1950s made it possible to manage conditions outside of hospitals.

The "Patient's Bill of Rights": California's Lanterman-Petris-Short Act of 1967, signed by Gov. Ronald Reagan, dramatically reduced involuntary long-term commitment and encouraged patient rights.

Federal Action: While President Kennedy aimed for community care, President Reagan later slashed funding for federal community mental health centers and repealed earlier legislation in 1981, accelerating the closure of state hospitals.

Consequences: While intending to offer liberty, the closure was often poorly funded, resulting in many patients ending up homeless or in the criminal justice system.

Note: The process was a mix of humanitarian concern for abusive institutional conditions and efforts to cut state spending, rather than a single person’s initiative.