Improving community support programs for the mentally ill

This study investigates ways to increase community supports for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. For a minority of individuals, the process of deinstitutionalisation has failed, leading to social isolation and a continuing cycle of admission and discharge from hospital. A broad examination of case studies is used to identify policy alternatives for British Columbia, and a detailed analysis of these alternatives confirms that they are best practices. Drawing on these findings, I propose four policy alternatives and conduct a policy analysis. Alternatives are assessed based on their ability to meet five criteria. Results indicate that telephone triage will immediately help alleviate some of the pressures on the mental health care system and address the needs of the most vulnerable portion of those with mental illness. I recommend that a telephone triage system be immediately implemented, followed by a community mental health centre in the next few years.