Martin Buber's relevance to institutional mental health care

Abstract

A Buberian perspective on problems related to the establishment of therapeutic environments on mental hospital wards is offered. Depersonalization and over-reliance on a medical treatment orientation in human relationships are identified as central problem areas in mental hospitals. The therapeutic community is identified as a major alternative model to respond to these problem areas. Difficulties in applying the therapeutic community model are identified. Buber's social philosophy, especially his interpretations of spiritual crisis, cultural crisis, structural renewal, and genuine dialogue, are identified as useful tools to clarify and resolve those difficulties.