The Development of Community Care in Psychiatry

Abstract

The theoretical considerations underlying the transfer of psychiatric care from the mental hospital to the community are discussed. The principal provisions of the British programme are set out. viz. 1.The establishment of acute psychiatric units in District General Hospitals. 2. The construction of hostels and day care centres by local authorities. • 1. The provision of a substantial increase in personnel. 4. The gradual rundown of the large mental hospitals. Some of the difficulties encountered in each of these 4 areas are enumerated. The relevance of these problems to Zimbabwe is discussed and two local developments, viz. the establishment of psychiatric follow-up services and the opening of a rehabilitation unit are described.