Abstract
Purpose: To describe cases seen by two Mobile Crisis Programs (MCPs) for individuals with severe mental illnesses. Focus is on client characteristics, mental health status, interventions, referrals, and immediate outcomes.
Methods: Data were collected retrospectively through a chart review of clinical record forms and accompanying progress notes for cases seen by the MCPs over a one-year period. A total of 981 cases were included in the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate statistics.
Results: Most cases involved clients who were female (60.2%), single (55.8%), living at home (56.8%), unemployed (85.6%), and between 20 and 44 years of age (44.5%). The two programs varied on a number of factors related to the demographic profile and mental health needs of the different geographical regions in which they are located.
Conclusions: Findings highlight the need for further research into how MCPs can be integrated with related mental health services in offering clients the least intrusive and most efficient services.
Résumé
Objet: Décrire les cas traités par deux programmes d’urgence mobiles (PUM) desservant les personnes ayant des maladies mentales graves, selon les caractéristiques des clients, leur état de santé mentale, les mesures d’intervention et d’aiguillage et les résultats immédiats.
Méthode: Les données ont été recueillies rétrospectivement au moyen d’un examen des fiches de consultation et des notes d’évolution s’y rattachant pour les cas traités par les PUM sur une période d’un an. L’étude a porté sur 981 cas. Les données ont été analysées au moyen de statistiques descriptives et bivariées.
Résultats: La plupart des cas concernaient des clients de sexe féminin (60,2 %), célibataires (55,8 %), vivant à la maison (56,8 %), sans emploi (85,6 %) et âgés de 20 à 44 ans (44,5 %). Les deux programmes différaient l’un de l’autre en ce qui a trait au profil démographique et aux besoins de santé mentale des zones géographiques desservies.
Conclusions: Les résultats soulignent le besoin de pousser la recherche sur les moyens d’intégrer les PUM aux services de santé mentale connexes pour offrir aux clients les services les moins perturbateurs et les plus efficaces possible.
References
- 1.Robins LH, Regier DA, editors. Psychiatric Disorders in America: The Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study. New York, NY: Free Press; 1991. [Google Scholar]
- 2.Bland RC, Newman SC, Orn H. Period prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Edmonton. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1988;77(S338):33–42. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1988.tb08545.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Kessler RC, McGonagle KA, Zhao S, Nelson CB, Hughes M, Eshleman S, et al. Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders in the United States. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1994;51:8–19. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1994.03950010008002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 4.Ontario M o Health. Putting People First: The Reform of Mental Health Services in Ontario. Toronto, ON: Ontario Ministry of Health; 1993. [Google Scholar]
- 5.Gillig P, Dumaine M, Hillard JR. Whom do mobile crisis services serve? Hospital and Community Psychiatry. 1990;41(7):804–5. doi: 10.1176/ps.41.7.804. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 6.Geller JL, Fisher WH, McDermeit M. A national survey of mobile crisis services and their evaluation. Psychiatric Services. 1995;46(9):893–97. doi: 10.1176/ps.46.9.893. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 7.Zealberg JJ, Santos AB. Mobile crisis: Comprehensive emergency psychiatry for the future. J South Carolina Med Assoc. 1993;89(10):485–89. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 8.Zealberg JJ, Santos AB, Fisher RK. Benefits of mobile crisis programs. Hospital and Community Psychiatry. 1993;44:16–17. doi: 10.1176/ps.44.1.16. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 9.Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Quality of Life in Canadian Communities. Ottawa, ON: Federation of Canadian Municipalities; 1999. [Google Scholar]
- 10.City of Toronto. Toronto Report Card on Homelessness. Toronto, ON: City of Toronto; 2000. [Google Scholar]
- 11.Statistics Canada. 1996 Census of Population. Ottawa, ON: Statistics Canada; 1996. [Google Scholar]