Determinants of the use of community-based mental health services after mobile crisis team services: An empirical approach using the Cox proportional hazard model

Abstract

It is crucial for people to have an immediate link to communitybased mental health services (CMHSs) after psychiatric crisis. This study aims to identify the determinants of people's use of CMHSs after Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) intervention. This study integrated four local administrative records and selected 1,771 adults who received MCT intervention in 2008. The authors measured the length between the last day of crisis period and the first date of using CMHSs and used the Cox proportional hazard model to estimate its predictors. Of the sample, 44.2% used CMHSs within 30 days after MCT intervention. Cox proportional hazards model identifies predictors of using CMHSs such as clients' diagnosis, substance abuse issues, treatment history, and the interventions during the crisis period. The findings reconfirm the vital roles of MCT intervention such as linking resources and referral services. Because this study simultaneously observes the process and postphase of psychiatric crisis intervention, its findings not only assist in improving interventions for people with psychiatric crisis but also support social policy and programs that strengthen the continuum of care.

A Systematic Review of Non-Police Response Models for Persons in Crisis

“…As was previously discussed, Referrals to Community Supports was focused on in 12 documents; however, only five documents mentioned referral uptake by clients. Three of these documents (Dyches et al, 2002;Faddy et al, 2017;Kim & Kim, 2017) provided specific percentages, and these ranged from 45.1% to 84.6% of clients utilizing the referrals provided to them by the teams. One document (Half Moon Bay CARES Program, n.d.) provided raw numbers, but without a sample size, I could not determine how frequently the clients were successfully connecting to the community supports that they were referred to.…”