On the basis of information obtained from a study of former mental patients (which was conducted under a research grant from the state of Florida), the authors point out the critical need for more comprehensive management information systems. Twelve specific steps for designing such a system are outlined. (Author/JH)

The author discusses the emotional issues that confront stepparents and stepchildren and describes a program to help stepparents deal with these issues and other conflicts. She also explores the myths of instant adjustment and recreated nuclear families and the realities of the stepparent-stepchild relationship. (Author/BEF)

Because of changes in mental health and rehabilitation services to mentally disabled persons, the primacy of vocational placement has come under scrutiny. Residential placement plays an important role in the client's coping. A new view of the prominence of vocational placement in the context of community adjustment is provided. (Author)

Questionnaires designed to assess subjects' feelings toward treatment in a university mental health program substantiate the assumption that college students can be treated effectively with brief psychotherapy. (MB)

Author concludes that hospital conditions are more humane than in the U.S., staff is more responsive and dedicated, drug therapy is not as prevalent. Furthermore, mental illness is not regarded as stigmatic, but instead emphasis is placed on patients regaining ability to play socially responsible and productive roles. (RW)

This article represents an overview of the various types of evaluation research conducted in the fields of crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and mental health in general. An attempt is made to classify it according to its content and purpose, and to assess the relative merit of each. (Author)

Crisis centers (N=2) had statistics of callers identified by race. Findings indicate differences between the white and black callers with regard to age, marital status, and type of problem. This kind of information suggests a need for expanded services within the crisis enter center framework, possibly for a more preventive approach. (Author)

Worker and caller behaviors are studied and compared in sample of 100 suicide calls to three crisis intervention centers. Verbal behaviors of workers and callers are substantially different, leading to the conclusion that crisis intervention is dissimilarly practiced between centers but similar within them. (Author)

This editorial comments on a study (EC 614 974) concerning interviews with children suspected to be victims of sexual abuse which eliminated interviewer bias and possible leading questioning. It supports further research into the effectiveness of "blind interviews" but also urges major changes in arrangements for obtaining children's evidence on…

Centerstone Community Mental Health, a private nonprofit agency based in Nashville, Tennessee, has responded to community needs by establishing new service programs to address them with whatever funding is available. Three described here are: an alternative school for students who cannot make it in public schools, school-based mental health…

Research seeks to determine key elements in sustainability of projects to reorient an aspect of their service to an early intervention approach in mental health. Findings confirm literature on capacity building which suggests several crucial predictors of success in changing the ways agencies run. These include the development of interagency…

Evaluates the usefulness of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) as a routine measure to screen for emotional and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents referred to a community child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). Results reveal that the SDQ is sensitive in detecting emotional and behavioral problems and may…

This pilot study aimed to establish the psychiatric morbidity in children remanded to prison custody using an age appropriate instrument, the K-SADS. The 19 boys interviewed showed high rates of affective disorders, substance misuse and conduct disorder. Study highlights the need to develop child and adolescent mental health services for children…

A variation of the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) for use in a needs assessment with key informants is described. The Missouri Department of Mental Health's planning staff, using the NGT, compiled key decision makers' perceptions of regional needs. The NGT helped in prioritizing the issues for each region. (TJH)

A conceptual framework is presented as a guide to defining starting points for primary prevention of behavioral and emotional disorders. Selected approaches reflecting these concepts are reviewed, and implementation considerations within the school setting are discussed. (SLD)