Problems associated with community mental health programs

Community mental health programs vary in relation to their types of administrative and fiscal policy and structure. Discontinuity of services may increase due to proliferation of community-based programs, and community mental health personnel must be trained to deal with many needs and new programs. There will also be conflicts over individual professional interests versus community needs. Problems of staff recruitment will increase and concerted efforts are necessary to increase inservice education in order to re-shape professional roles. Psychologists in particular are interested in new developments in community psychology as a means of contributing to these efforts.This article is based on a paper presented in a symposium on Contributions of Psychologists to Community Mental Health Programs at the American Psychological Association Convention, Chicago, 1965.