Who uses consumer-run self-help organizations?
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.
Goering
Paula
P
University of Toronto.
Durbin
Janet
J
University of Toronto.
Sheldon
Christina Tess
CT
University of Toronto.
Ochocka
Joanna
J
Centre for Research and Education in Human Services.
Nelson
Geoffrey
G
Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University.
Krupa
Terry
T
School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University.
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