title: Residential crisis units. Are we missing out on a good idea?
abstract: Residential Crisis Units (RCU) are non-hospital-based facilities that provide mental health crisis intervention. This paper reviews the RCU literature base and finds good evidence of the ability of RCUs to function as alternatives to hospitalization for many consumers, with equivalent effectiveness and for significantly less cost. Despite this promising research, the RCU model has not been widely adopted. Using two crisis units as case examples as well as key informant interviews, this paper explores factors affecting the lack of dissemination and potential barriers to the growth of the RCU model.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Butterill
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goering
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003256:Community Participation / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003419:Crisis Intervention / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D015277:Hotlines; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012648:Self Care; D012944:Social Support