Mental Health Care

As the scope of this book’s narrative spans most of the 20th century, with a particular focus on the latter half of that era, Robert Kolker charts both the function and the development of the mental health care system in the United States as it relates to schizophrenia, noting its successes and failures. One particular issue he touches upon throughout the book is the barriers to access that exist for many Americans like the Galvins who cannot afford to pay for the best available treatments or facilities. Economic inequality and the lack of a universal mental health care system limits the options of the Galvin family significantly, to the detriment of everyone, not only the sick brothers.

Kolker outlines this dilemma, the flaws in the mental health care system, and the serious lack of options available to the Galvins as follows: “Donald needed help. But...