FACTORS IN THE SUCCESS OF A PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
MAURICE E. LINDEN M.D.1,
KENNETH E. APPEL M.D.2,
JOHN E. DAVIS M.D.3, , and
ROBERT A. MATTHEWS M.D.4
1 Director, Division of Mental Health, Philadelphia Dept. of Public Health.
2 Professor of Psychiatry, Univ. of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa.
3 Commissioner of Mental Health, Dept. of Public Welfare, Commonwealth of Penna.
4 Professor of Psychiatry, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa.
The following factors have likely been paramount in the operational success of the Philadelphia regional mental health program:
1. Excellent timing of the program coinciding with the peak development of interest and goodwill on the part of an informed public and dedicated governments;
2. Intensified and continuous communication among popular representatives, professional staffs and political bodies;
3. Creation of two important cooperating governmental mental health units–the Philadelphia division of mental health within the Department of Public Health and the State of Pennsylvania's office of the Commissioner of Mental Health within the Department of Welfare (now Public Welfare);
4. Establishment and continuation of the Conjoint Mental Health Board;
5. Creation and intensification of the programs of the reception center;
6. Maintenance of continuous and perpetual statistical control over all aspects of the program;
7. Constant application and initiation of various researches and surveys including program self-reevaluation;
8. Attention to all of the community's mental health needs in a comprehensive program;
9. Utilization of operational elements proved effective in other localities (profiting vicariously from others' mistakes);
10. Involvement of the lay and professional communities wherever possible;
11. Encouragement of leadership at the lowest possible echelon of responsibility in the overall administrative pattern.
12. Giving credit where due in public and press relations.
