A Community Project in Behalf of the Hospitalized Mentally Ill Patient: The Cooperative Care Project
JULES V. COLEMAN M.D.1
1 Clinical Professor of Public Health and Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 60 College Street, New Haven, Conn. 06510, and Director, the Cooperative Care Project
The project in general disclosed the extent and diversity of unmet needs for the community care of this group of particularly difficult patients and families. The value of community services of one kind or another as represented in the project, in meeting the needs of a great many patients and family members, was clearly demonstrated. It was also clear that coordination of services was often essential for their effective use.
The project disclosed a number of findings of interest in relation to the course of the mentally ill patient entering and residing in the hospital and in the community. It indicated the relevance of different kinds of treatment procedures for patients at different times. It brought home with considerable impact the difficulties in community treatment of the mentally ill, as well as in the coordination of community services in their behalf.
Finally, in making possible a greater depth of understanding of this special group of patients, the project suggests many possible approaches to their more effective care.
