In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, the treatment of individuals seeking asylum due to mental health issues was reflective of the broader societal attitudes towards mental illness. Asylum conditions were often harsh, and patients were frequently treated with a lack of dignity and understanding. According to historian A. J. P. Taylor, "Asylums during this period were overcrowded and underfunded, leading to inhumane conditions and a focus on containment rather than care" (Taylor, 2021). As a result, many individuals with mental illnesses were not only isolated from society but also subjected to deplorable living conditions within these institutions. This contributed to a cycle of stigma and dehumanization, as the general public continued to see mental illness through a lens of fear and ignorance, further marginalizing those in need of compassionate care and support. The combination of societal misunderstanding and the institutional neglect of the time left many people without the necessary treatment, reinforcing the pervasive cycle of shame and isolation faced by individuals with mental disabilities.
Sources:
- Taylor, A. J. P. (2021). The History of Asylum Treatment: The Great Depression Era. [Online Source]