I can't speak about asylums in the 70s, but I think modern mental health centers have problems, some different, some similar. First is that these tend to be either state-run or contracted, and there is a great incentive to provide the bare minimum of care. There is also a serious issue with organization. My father used to work at some of these institutions. He's a psychologist with a PhD and 20+ years of experience treating the mentally ill. His bosses, who are in charge of running the place and determining policy, had high school educations. The nursing staff, who spent most of the time with the patients, also had high school education (maybe some nursing school education, but usually not). I think we should increase funding for mental health clinics, and put the professionals in charge.

Also, I understand the aversion many people have to even the concept of asylums, but the problem is in the implementation, not the concept. De-institutionalization is great, asylums should be an absolute last resort and many cases can be more easily dealt with in out-patient care or medication. But, absolute de-institutionalization means the mentally ill wind up homeless or in prison.