Community mental health concepts as demonstrated by suicide prevention programs in Florida

There are certain basic principles of commuity mental health that may be demonstrated by the operation of a sucide prevention center. The most significant of these principles - that relating to the integration of each separate service into the total network of the health and welfare system of a community - can be achieved by the careful and deliberate planning of the administrative functions in the design of the service. This paper outlines a general organizational model in which the major unit is the Community Advisory Board. The members of this Board are able to effect the policies and procedures that enable the suicide prevention service and the other existing agencies to make maximum use of one another. Specific examples are reported to show how this model has worked in two communities of Central Florida.