[elgabogringo]

The real issue is a legal, not financial one. The ACLU fought a long time ago to make it very hard to commit anyone, very hard to give them treatment while committed, very hard to keep them there, etc.

No matter how much city/states spend, they can't fill up the hospitals and treat patients, which is why most of the hospitals were closed.

If you are interested, there's a very thorough book on the subject that I'd recommend:

https://www.amazon.com/My-Brother-Ron-Personal-Deinstitution...

[electricEmu]

This conclusion does cut both ways. It should be acknowledged that treatment at mental institutions then was horrific. Current treatment is not much better.