title: Who uses consumer-run self-help organizations?
abstract: A multisite evaluation of community mental health services is used to answer two questions: (a) How do diagnosis, functioning, and self-assessments of consumer/survivor initiative (CSI) and assertive community treatment (ACT) participants compare?, and (b) What other supports/services are CSI and ACT participants using? The sample is from an Ontario evaluation of consumer/survivor peer initiatives in four communities (n=73). The reference group is new (n=48) and ongoing (n=134) clients of four ACT teams. Self-help organizations are serving a broader population of individuals who include a significant subgroup of persons with severe mental illness along with others with a mixed picture of higher functioning and greater instability. There is little overlap in the use of these modes of service delivery, which suggests that maintaining options within systems of care is critical to ensuring coverage and access for the broader population.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goering
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Durbin
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Christina Tess
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Sheldon
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research and Education in Human Services.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ochocka
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University.
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krupa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001242:Assertiveness; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003255:Consumer Organizations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012649:Self Concept; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012917:Social Adjustment