Community care for the chronic mentally ill

The movement of chronic mentally ill patients from large mental hospitals into the community, seeks to liberate institutionalized clients and substitute a more humane environment. This article reviews the types of chronic mental patients now living in the community. The differences between a maintenance and a rehabilitation model for treating the chronic mental patient living in the community are discussed. Special treatment programs for the young adult chronic client are also considered. Three questions specific to occupational therapists working with chronic mentally ill patients in the community are then explored. These are: A. How can we increase the visibility of occupational therapy in community mental health?; B. Should occupational therapists be involved in programs which have a maintenance, rather than a rehabilitation focus?: and C. What has the occupational therapist to offer the young adult chronic client?