Community-Based Mental Health Services: Is Coercion Necessary?

Abstract

In community mental health, limitation of service recipient choice and freedom takes place through mechanisms ranging from subtle to blatant. The justification of coercion in these settings typically focuses on recipient deficits. We argue that this focus must shift to the service system itself, and that the most successful efforts to improve recipient engagement will be those that support respectful provider–recipient relationships and the delivery of services that help recipients achieve goals of their choosing.

KEYWORDS:

• aggressive outreach
• assertive community treatment
• case management
• coercion
• community mental health
• outpatient commitment