Developing a model for providing Home Based Mental Health Services

Abstract

Various community based models for delivering mental health services exist in the West in the form of CMHTs, ACTs, HITHs etc.; the most favoured being the CRHT. The methodology consisted of 3 Phases where in phase I, service evaluation of existing services and in depth review of literature was done. Based on the results obtained from phase I, in model for providing home based mental health services was developed and in Phase III the newly developed model was implemented along with evaluation of its effectiveness. It was a mixed method study and employed both Quantitative and Qualitative methods a to gain in-depth knowledge of the subject. The total sample size was 120 (60 in Phase I and 60 in Phase III). In phase III assessments were done twice viz at base line and then after 6 weeks follow up. Quantitative analysis was done using SPSS version 21.0 whereas qualitative data (in-depth interviews and focus group discussions) analysis was done using thematic analysis. The findings of certain key components of the quantitative analysis, were that nearly 2/3rd patients were fully engaged ; 26.6% being partly engaged , and 6.7% were non engaged . To conclude HBMHS is multidisciplinary in nature. In keeping with the western concept of CRHTs, whose broad aim is to ensure that the patient gets well and the team provides a rapid gate keeping response the HBMHS is also expected to fulfil similar roles. Nevertheless, it is difficult to do a direct comparison of HBMHS with other western models of CRHT as they operate based upon a different conceptual basis. Additionally, to the best of the researcher s knowledge, there is no such model available in India due to which any direct comparison can be made. HBMHS is provided for those with mental illness, and the ethos of gate keeping and liaison is maintained only for conceptual services and is in keeping with the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol (2007). newline