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A Descriptive Analysis of Two Mobile Crisis Programs for Clients with Severe Mental Illness

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Abstract

Purpose: To describe cases seen by two Mobile Crisis Programs (MCPs) for individuals with severe mental illnesses. Focus is on client characteristics, mental health status, interventions, referrals, and immediate outcomes.

Methods: Data were collected retrospectively through a chart review of clinical record forms and accompanying progress notes for cases seen by the MCPs over a one-year period. A total of 981 cases were included in the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate statistics.

Results: Most cases involved clients who were female (60.2%), single (55.8%), living at home (56.8%), unemployed (85.6%), and between 20 and 44 years of age (44.5%). The two programs varied on a number of factors related to the demographic profile and mental health needs of the different geographical regions in which they are located.

Conclusions: Findings highlight the need for further research into how MCPs can be integrated with related mental health services in offering clients the least intrusive and most efficient services.

Résumé

Objet: Décrire les cas traités par deux programmes d’urgence mobiles (PUM) desservant les personnes ayant des maladies mentales graves, selon les caractéristiques des clients, leur état de santé mentale, les mesures d’intervention et d’aiguillage et les résultats immédiats.

Méthode: Les données ont été recueillies rétrospectivement au moyen d’un examen des fiches de consultation et des notes d’évolution s’y rattachant pour les cas traités par les PUM sur une période d’un an. L’étude a porté sur 981 cas. Les données ont été analysées au moyen de statistiques descriptives et bivariées.

Résultats: La plupart des cas concernaient des clients de sexe féminin (60,2 %), célibataires (55,8 %), vivant à la maison (56,8 %), sans emploi (85,6 %) et âgés de 20 à 44 ans (44,5 %). Les deux programmes différaient l’un de l’autre en ce qui a trait au profil démographique et aux besoins de santé mentale des zones géographiques desservies.

Conclusions: Les résultats soulignent le besoin de pousser la recherche sur les moyens d’intégrer les PUM aux services de santé mentale connexes pour offrir aux clients les services les moins perturbateurs et les plus efficaces possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 12 Queen’s Park Crescent West, McMurrich Building, 4th floor, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada

    Lorraine E. Ferris PhD, CPsych, LLM & Christine De Siato MSc

  2. Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada

    Lorraine E. Ferris PhD, CPsych, LLM, Jane Sandercock BSc, J. Ivan Williams PhD, Kenneth I. Shulman MD, SM FRCPsych. FRCPC & Jay Moss (Psychiatrist)

  3. Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Canada

    Lorraine E. Ferris PhD, CPsych, LLM & J. Ivan Williams PhD

  4. The Toronto Rehabilitation Centre, Canada

    J. Ivan Williams PhD

  5. Dept of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada

    Kenneth I. Shulman MD, SM FRCPsych. FRCPC

  6. St. Elizabeth, Canada

    Freida Chavez

  7. New Dimensions, Canada

    Joel Roth

Authors
  1. Lorraine E. Ferris PhD, CPsych, LLM
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  2. Christine De Siato MSc
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  3. Jane Sandercock BSc
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  4. J. Ivan Williams PhD
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  5. Kenneth I. Shulman MD, SM FRCPsych. FRCPC
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  6. Jay Moss
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  7. Freida Chavez
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  8. Joel Roth
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Correspondence to Lorraine E. Ferris PhD, CPsych, LLM.

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Ferris, L.E., De Siato, C., Sandercock, J. et al. A Descriptive Analysis of Two Mobile Crisis Programs for Clients with Severe Mental Illness. Can J Public Health 94, 233–237 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405073

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405073

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