The Psychiatrists’ Contribution in Overcoming Children’s Homelessness in Moscow in the 1920s

Abstract

The article is devoted to the psychiatrists’ activities in overcoming children’s homelessness in the 1920s in Moscow. The social roots of homelessness as a source of juvenile offences in the capital are shown. Anti-children’s homelessness measures implemented by government and health care system are presented. The problem acuteness of mental disorders in homelessness and young offenders was revealed, the importance of their medical and pedagogical correction for further successful socialization was grounded. We have analyzed the actions of Moscow psychiatrists, employees of National Institute of Protection of Children and Adolescents of People’s Commissariat of Public Health named after 10th anniversary of the October Revolution (N.I. Ozeretsky, M.O. Gurevich, E.P. Radin, etc.) on research of causes and correction of mental disorders in homeless children, humanization of correctional facilities for young offenders, and the organization of the Russian psychiatric service for children. The research of these scientists has played crucial role in the development of social pediatrics. The conclusion about the significant contribution of psychiatrists to overcoming children’s homelessness in Moscow was made.