Community mental health--the metropolitan view.

Abstract

The organization and operation of psychiatric services in Los Angeles County is discussed and analyzed against the developments occurring in the US. The services, begun in an atmosphere of controversy, grew rapidly as a separate department of Los Angeles County government. New mental health program components were added following a principle of conservative development with a view toward gearing the mental health program''s activities to a wide variety of community caregivers. Program emphasis was placed on maximum utilization of all existing community resources, along with concentration on services to those with major mental illness. Services were planned for 13 areas (congruent with public health districts) of Los Angeles County with the aid of demographic and epidemiological data obtained through a research and evaluation division, Difficulties in relating this local effort to the federal comprehensive mental health program with its 52 "catchment areas" for Los Angeles County are described.