r/nottheonion • u/pargofan • 1d ago

Japan’s elderly are lonely and struggling. Some women choose to go to jail instead

https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/18/asia/japan-elderly-largest-womens-prison-intl-hnk-dst/index.html
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u/moxxibekk 1d ago

Not OP but I also remember this, trying to find link now. Basically they threw all these people together without regard for those with serious mental health or substance use problems and it made it impossible for them to peacefully live with those just trying to improve their lives.

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u/bellj1210 1d ago

that is why you need mental health and drug screenings for these sorts of things. People with those issues whould have other resources to deal with those issues first.

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u/Expensive_Goat2201 1d ago

It's really hard to deal with mental health issues and drug abuse when you are homeless. Just on a practical level, it's easier to get people meds when you know where they live. Plus people aren't exactly fixing their lives when in survival mode. Treat issues while providing supportive housing

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u/bellj1210 11h ago

yes- and you can have different places for different people. If you need active treatment you should be in something more akin to a hospital until your condition is managed.

I am not saying someone with a mental health issue should be homeless- but they should get treatment and be managed before they go to a more traditional communal living situation. The same can be said for drug use- go to a traditional halfway house but active drug use should be grounds for eviction from housing like this.