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A comparison of community attitudes toward CMHC services and clients with those of mental hospitals
Author(s) -
Scott Reda R.,
Balch Philip,
Flynn Todd C.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
american journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.113
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1573-2770
pISSN - 0091-0562
DOI - 10.1007/bf00896606
Subject(s) - mental health , health psychology , public health , mental hospital , community service , catchment area , medicine , psychology , nursing , psychiatry , public relations , political science , geography , drainage basin , cartography
Community residents (n = 403) in the East Catchment area of Tucson, Arizona, were interviewed to assess attitudes toward community mental health center (CMHC) services and patients as well as mental hospital services and patients. These residents reported significantly more positive attitudes toward CMHC services than mental hospital services; however, there were no differences in reported attitudes towards CMHC and mental hospital patients. Results are discussed in terms of shifts in community residents' attitudes towards mental health services in general and community-based services in particular. Implications of community attitudes for support of CMHC programs in a time of increasing financial cutbacks are also explored.