Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Community attitudes about mental health services

  • Articles
  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Community attitudes toward a new mental health center were surveyed by calling 110 randomly selected residences. Drugs and alcohol were seen as the community's most pressing social problem. Respondents were favorable to mental health centers and public funding and had accurate information about many aspects of mental health problems, although misinformation about types of services, professional staffing, and length of treatment was present. The favorable community altitude is seen as providing a base for increased public education in areas of misinformation and more consultation and preventive programs in areas of community concern.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker, F., & Schulberg, H. C. The development of a community mental health ideology scale.Community Mental Health Journal, 1967,3, 216–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cumming, E., & Cumming, J.Closed ranks: An experiment in mental health. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine, D. A cross-national study of attitudes toward mental illness.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1972,77, 153–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabkin, J. G. Opinions about mental illness: A review of the literature.Psychological Bulletin, 1972,77, 153–171.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryker, M., & Vierkant, A. Community mental health and the schools: Perceptions of educational personnel.Community Mental Health Journal, 1972,8, 87–91.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, 85721, Tucson, Arizona

    Spencer A. McWilliams Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, Director)

  2. Research and Evaluation, Tucson East Community Mental Health Center, USA

    Larry A. Morris Ph.D. (Director, Consultant psychologist)

  3. Behavior Associates, Behavior Therapy Center, Tucson

    Larry A. Morris Ph.D. (Director, Consultant psychologist)

Authors
  1. Spencer A. McWilliams Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Larry A. Morris Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Gratitude is expressed to the Tucson East staff, advisory board members, and volunteers who helped by conducting the survey, to Mr. Mark Underwood who performed the computer work and statistical analysis and to Dr. Hayward Fox and Dr. Dennis Coon for their suggestions in the development of the survey questionnaire.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McWilliams, S.A., Morris, L.A. Community attitudes about mental health services. Community Ment Health J 10, 236–242 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01410905

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01410905

Keywords

Search

Navigation