Patterns of community mental health development in major American cities.

Abstract

Community mental health developments in major American cities are reviewed and compared through 1968. An open-ended questionnaire covering nine areas basic to urban community mental health services was forwarded to appropriate authorities in 25 American cities. Data collected from the 15 respondents indicated extreme diversity in terms of type of administration, funding patterns, scope of program, community participation, and so forth. The data also indicate rapid developments in community mental health services in major American cities. The findings are consistent with the general conclusion that community mental health services in urban settings are in an early developmental stage.