In response to the Community Mental Health Act, California discharged over half of hospitalized patients in which year?

• A. 1965
• B. 1967
• C. 1972
• D. 1980

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is deinstitutionalization driven by policy reforms in the 1960s, which pushed mental health care from large state hospitals toward community-based services. In California, this shift began to show up in the inpatient census as the state moved to discharge many long-stay patients so they could receive care in less restrictive settings. By 1967, more than half of the hospitalized patients had been discharged, marking a clear turning point in how mental health care was organized and delivered. This year stands out because it reflects the substantial translation of policy intent into practice, signaling a nationwide move away from institutional care and toward community-based management of mental health needs.