more on mental illness and societal support

There have been gains in mental health care in the past 50 years. Some medications have made it possible for previously hospitalized patients to live in the regular world and even hold jobs. But some care is often still needed, and these ...patients often have poor insight and poor skills for managing their own illness, and their own lives. Often, they would do best in an assisted-living facility, with someone acting like a house-mother, watching to be sure they eat, drink enough fluids so they don't get dehydrated, take their medicines, and see their doctors regularly. When they start to get sicker, and withdraw, this house-mother is invaluable in alerting the medical team, to be able to step up the care.
People who really want to understand more are urged to go to the NAMI website for advocacy for the mentally ill. Also, I recommend the book, "Surviving Schizophrenia" for families and advocates of patients, by Dr. Torrey. We simply MUST try to make it safer for mentally ill patients to live in our world. It is dangerous and complicated, and they need and deserve our help.