Though the attached article notes some controversy over the effectiveness of state-run mental hospitals, and how their closure is a reflection of budget cuts, the real truth of the matter is that they are being closed because the state legislature is not willing to tax the populace to make sure that the mentally ill are cared for. That's what "budget problems" means.
And don't kid yourself that it's being done for therapeutic reasons; it's being done for political reasons, to avoid raising taxes.
Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is up to the reader to consider. #ddtb
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Alabama Plans to Shut Most Mental Hospitals
The decision to close four hospitals is a reminder of budget problems but also reflects a national trend toward relocating mentally ill patients to small group homes and private hospitals.