The community mental health center and community awareness

The effect of newspaper publicity on a mental health center's community visibility

“…The results of this study, related to the percentage of respondents who had heard of the agency in question, compare favorably with the results of other studies (Goldman, 1974;Heinemann, Perlmutter, & Yudin, 1974;Tomlinson, 1971). The visibility changes of the psychiatric center seem surprisingly great in light of the visibility percentages, ranging from 4% to 30%, mentioned in the studies cited above.…”

“…Although some researchers (Goldman, 1970;Heinemann, Perlmutter, & Yudin, 1974;Ring & Schein, 1970;Tomlinson, 1971) have recently studied the community's awareness of available mental health services, no one has yet reported figures indicating that the community is very knowledgeable of such services. Even though it is certainly not unusual for community mental health centers to make use of the media to heighten community awareness of their services, no one has yet reported an attempt to study the effect of publicity on community awareness of psychiatric services.…”

Awareness of a community mental health center among three “gatekeeper” groups

“…Ring and Schein (1970), in a survey of one subsection of Big City's catchment area, found that doctors were viewed as the primary helping agents in time of need for help with mental or emotional problems. In an earlier survey of the awareness of the CMHC among residents of the catchment area, the present authors also found medical services (doctors or hospitals) were the preferred source of help for more than 50% of the respondents (Heinemann et al, 1974).…”

“…The differences between the groups were significant at the .05% level for the total CMHC Center and not significant for the local units. It is important to note that when we compare the gatekeepers' own statements about their use of the Center with independent findings on referral aFrom Heinemann et al, 1974 andYudin et al, 1974. bTotals reflect multiple replies on the part of some respondents.…”

“…The Big City CMCH, 3 established in 1967, is a large, complex agency with three inpatient facilities, seven neighborhood counseling centers, a large narcotics treatment unit, a comprehensive day hospital, a workshop for adult retardates, a decentralized alcoholism treatment program, a child guidance unit, and a 24-hour emergency service. Some of these units are older than others and are variously well known among the local residents (Heinemann, Perlmutter, & Yudin, 1974;Yudin, Heinemann, & Perlmutter, 1974). Each month approximately 4000 persons receive service in one or more of these facilities, and each month there are 300 to 400 new admissions.…”