Development of an inner urban homeless mental health service.
OBJECTIVE
The aim is to describe the development, principles and practices of the Waratah Area Homeless Outreach Psychiatric Service (WAHOPS) and place these in the context of international developments in homeless psychiatric services.


METHODS
Information on the development of the service was collected from current and past staff. Reference is made to the relevant literature.


RESULTS
WAHOPS has developed a unique model of practice based on local and international experience.


CONCLUSIONS
Specialized mental health services for the homeless, by working in close collaboration with existing homeless services, can successfully engage and manage patients. The application of homeless practices may need to become more widespread in public mental health services as patterns of accommodation change within the Australian population.
Holmes
Alex
A
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Vic., Australia. acnh@unimelb.edu.au
Hodge
Mark
M
Newton
Richard
R
Bradley
Gail
G
Bluhm
Alan
A
Hodges
Jane
J
Didio
Louise
L
Doidge
Graeme
G
D001315:Australia; D003158:Community Psychiatry / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*