An indication of the failure of the mental health system in this country is reflected in the increasingly visible homeless population, many of whom suffer from some form of untreated mental illness. Public policy priorities have shifted from proactive, treatment-oriented policies to reactive, punitive institutionalization. The…

This training manual is intended for use by school personnel, especially at the secondary school level, who must deal directly with suicidal behavior among students. Guidelines are presented for dealing with the reactions of a school system to an actual suicide and for dealing with the return to school of a student following a suicide attempt. An…

This special edition summarizes the discussions which proceeded during the Indian Health Service (IHS) Mental Health Plenary Session. Following introductory comments by four session participants are seven discussion topics: mental health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives; history and description of the program; services for children…

This article examines the literature and the experience of the MindMatters Plus demonstration schools in regard to improving student and staff mental health literacy. The aim of the MindMatters Plus initiative is to build the capacity of secondary schools to increase their support of students with high mental health needs. This is achieved in…

This paper discusses three functional classes of assessment of depression: (1) global measures for comparability; (2) specific measures of depression components; and (3) measures of model-related dimensions. Attempts at assessing depression in two psychotherapy studies are presented. This research has been organized around a model which assumes…

Despite all the recent attention being focused on the mental health of children, there remains a scarcity of effective programs for troubled youngsters and their families. One major reason for this failure to provide appropriate resources may be found in the inappropriate delivery systems developed for this task. An innovative family advocacy…

The purpose of this manual is to provide clients of community mental health facilities with techniques and skills to bring about changes in their own behavior and that of others in their environment. The manual has been used for two years as a textbook for a program of self-control skills training offered in San Mateo County, California, community…

This paper is intended to familiarize professionals involved in the treatment of the elderly with the role of the Psychologist Clinician as a member of the primary care health team. The paper provides a description of the care facility and its programmes, and of the areas of involvement of the Clinical Psychologist. Data regarding the number of…

This paper describes the multidisciplinary group therapy teams that provide services to older persons in board and care residences in the catchment area of Thalians (California) Community Mental Health Center. It reports on the manner in which the decision to form teams was arrived at, the process by which the teams were established, and the…

The Indochinese Mental Health Project of the International Institute of San Francisco has as its major goal that of helping Indochinese refugees to receive training and to find employment in community mental health services in order that they may work with incoming refugee populations. Prospective trainees are evaluated and selected on the basis…

A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) clinic on Chicago's Near North Side is currently offering physical and mental health care to Public Aid recipients. Psychological services are provided by a mental health co-ordinator (Ph.D. level) who supervises one or two counselors of M.A. status. The co-ordinator's other responsibilities include…

A multi-method strategy was developed and applied to the assessment of mental health need in the catchment area of a small community mental health center. Social indicators including census data and health and welfare statistics were used to make an initial needs assessment. These findings were validated and supplemented through a survey of…

The problems of youth have in the past attracted considerable concern. The long-term program of the European office of the World Health Organization includes a whole range of activities in this field. The Working Group was convened to review the activities, organization and staffing of youth advisory services. Their report recommends that these…