A new kind of homelessness for individuals with serious mental illness? The need for a "mental health home"

Psychiatr Serv. 2009 Apr;60(4):528-33. doi: 10.1176/ps.2009.60.4.528.

Abstract

Individuals with serious mental illness often are unable to access consumer- and family-oriented community care, resulting in repeated hospitalizations, incarceration, and homelessness. The "medical home" concept was developed in primary care to provide accessible and accountable services for individuals with chronic medical conditions. Building on the work done in primary care, the authors propose a "mental health home." The model of care incorporates medical home characteristics, such as access to and coordination of services, integration of primary and preventive care, adoption of recovery orientation and evidence-based practices, and family and community outreach. Barriers to and strategies for implementation of mental health homes are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Delivery of Health Care, Integrated
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Health Services Needs and Demand*
  • Humans
  • Ill-Housed Persons*
  • Inservice Training
  • Mental Disorders / rehabilitation
  • Mental Disorders / therapy*
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Patient-Centered Care*
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care
  • Reimbursement Mechanisms