Mental health needs assessment approaches: a case for applied epidemiology

This paper briefly describes the political and social factors which have prompted the rapid development of needs assessment as a research activity. It also suggests reasons for the likelihood of continuing assessment mandates through the 1980s. The five most commonly employed needs assessment methodologies are outlined and a critique is offered for each. The major focus of the paper is on the development and uses of an applied epidemiologic survey assessment model which has been designed and tested extensively by the authors in a variety of geographic areas and agency settings. Illustrations of how field survey data can be presented for enumerating mental health needs are also presented.