Bag ladies: from the wards to the streets

Christine Alavi, Southern Cross University

Abstract

This paper discusses the movement of inmates from mental hospitals to the community with particular focus on homeless women. It raises the question of the fate of bag ladies once the national Mental Health Policy and Plan have run their course in the middle of 1998 when 'community care' has been inadequately resourced. It explores alternative explanations for odd behaviour other than labelling such behaviour psychotic.