Aftermath of the 1970's Manicomial Reforms in Brazil

In the 1970s, the conditions of Brazilian asylums for the mentally ill and addicts were exposed as inhumane and a cause for concern among human rights and mental health activists, leading to calls for their abolition. Despite the pure intentions of these activists, the government ultimately caved to their demands and began closing down these asylums. However, this concession resulted in a lack of responsibility from the government towards the mentally ill, as the cost of maintaining these facilities was deemed too high. This has resulted in the underfunding of public healthcare services, limited access to proper medical care, and institutionalization for the mentally ill. With poverty and ignorance exacerbating the situation, many patients are left to roam the streets without proper care, putting them at risk of abuse and danger. A similar trajectory played out in the United States and Canada in the 1950s and 1960s, where calls to defund abusive mental asylums led to a lack of proper care and resources for the mentally ill.