Community alternatives project: An evaluation of a community-based acute psychiatric team providing alternatives to admission

Abstract

The results of an evaluative study conducted during the first 2 years of operation of a community-based acute psychiatric service are presented. Many potential hospital admissions were prevented, and it is concluded that the project described here is a viable structure within which alternatives to psychiatric admission can be delivered. The main effective components appeared to be: crisis intervention; and close liaison with other members of the Community Mental Health Centre (CMHC), particularly those working in rehabilitation. Generally high levels of satisfaction were expressed by a sample of users of the service and by referrers.