Mental Illness and Mental Handicap

Abstract

This chapter, together with the one which follows, concentrates on the needs of particular groups of people and the welfare provision which exists to meet these needs. People suffering from mental illnesses and those with a mental handicap are discussed in this chapter, while the next focuses on the needs of the elderly and people with disabilities. In many ways, there is nothing special about the nature of the needs of these people. For example, the need to be accepted and to have a place in society are needs shared by all human beings. Similarly, everyone needs suitable housing, an income and care in times of ill-health. However, there are people for whom meeting these needs requires additional help. The problems which may be experienced by groups like the elderly and the handicapped are problems for the whole of the society, since it is not so much old age or handicap which is a problem, but society’s attitude to people who are old or handicapped.