We use to have this, self operating mental institutions. Most all patients had jobs that kept the facility running. The US has around ~10 mental health beds per

We use to have this, self operating mental institutions. Most all patients had jobs that kept the facility running. The US has around ~10 mental health beds per 100k. Most European nations have around 100 and developed Asian countries have ~200. The US had similar or higher numbers decades ago. The pharmaceutical companies however have successfully lobbied to medicate instead of house the mentally ill. As well we have largely replaced those mental health beds with prison beds. The largest expenditure after staffing for most correction departments is inmate medications. We simply need to bring back an intermediary between the streets and jail. As well I would argue we may need something as an intermediary between jail and the military like the pre-ww2 CC camps.