Community mental health ideology and activity interests

Sixty mental health professionals completed two scales: the Community Mental Health Ideology Scale (CMHI), and a scale rating the importance of, and personal interest in, a range of mental health activities. The overall mean CMHI score was comparable to that of clinical psychologists surveyed in the original CMHI study. CMHI scores correlated significantly with subjects' ratings of the importance for the general community to provide a range of services other than direct rehabilitative services. Ratings of the importance for community mental health centers to provide mental health planning and development, and activities directed at general community and social problems, also correlated significantly with CMHI scores. Additionally, CMHI scores were related to personal interest in participating in a broad range of mental health activities. The results contribute to the construct validity of the CMHI and support the notion that community mental health ideology relates to actual mental health activity interest.