Toward a new philosophy of care: perspectives on prevention.

Abstract

The history of medical care in America and the present practice of mental health professionals generally reflect the economic structure of the country and of supply and demand. Revision is seriously needed in the areas of service delivery and training to give emphasis to primary prevention, and this requires social action on two levels: redirection of national priorities and development of a new philosophy of care founded in service and committed to prevention. Prevention is a form of response that can be made to existing and anticipated societal difficulties, to attempts to resolve them, and thus to planning properly for the future. Such plans must involve specific goals, purposes, attainable relevant programs, and the ability of providers and consumers to plan and act collaboratively; education of both providers and consumers: and making use of the political process to support this new philosophy of care both morally and financially. The tools of modern technology can be adapted and brought to bear on the problem of mental health care and mental illness prevention so that society can move beyond past failures to a system of care for the mentally ill that can keep pace with our complex modern society.