President Reagan Was he the one who basically closed y mental hospitals throwing a good deal of mentally ill individuals into streets USA?

The deinstitutionalization of mental health patients began before Ronald Reagan's presidency, but he did sign legislation that contributed to the process. The Mental Health Systems Act of 1980, signed by President Jimmy Carter, shifted funding from large state mental hospitals to community-based mental health services. This trend continued under President Reagan's administration.

There are several reasons why this shift occurred. One is the belief that community-based services are more effective and humane. Another is the financial burden of caring for large numbers of people in state mental hospitals. Additionally, there was a movement toward greater civil rights for mental health patients, which led to a decrease in the involuntary commitment of people to mental hospitals.

The deinstitutionalization of mental health patients has had both positive and negative consequences. On the positive side, it has allowed more people to live independently in the community. On the negative side, it has led to an increase in the number of homeless mentally ill people and a lack of access to adequate mental health care.

It is important to note that mental illness is a complex issue with many contributing factors. Deinstitutionalization is just one of many factors that have affected the lives of people with mental illness.