[Psychiatric services in sheltered and supported housing]

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Mental Health Services Research
• Social Work in Healthcare

Context:

• Severe mental illness (SMI) care presents challenges in sheltered and supported housing.
• "Heavy user" profiles within SMI populations often experience frequent residential changes and hospitalizations.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the specific needs of housing providers in collaborating with psychiatric services.

Purpose:

• To explore the needs of sheltered and supported housing providers concerning cooperation with psychiatric hospitals.
• To identify challenges and requirements for effective inter-institutional collaboration in SMI care.
• To inform strategies for improving support for individuals with SMI in community-based settings.

Summary:

• An explorative survey of 140 sheltered and supported housing facilities in Zurich was conducted.
• Fifty-six institutions (50% capacity) responded, detailing experiences with residents and problematic courses.
• Key needs identified include regular, flexible cooperation and open communication with psychiatric hospitals, especially during patient discharge and intake.

Impact:

• Enhanced collaboration can improve the quality of housing support for individuals with SMI.
• Concentrating psychiatric expertise on sheltered housing needs can increase facility confidence.
• Better integration may reduce extensive hospitalizations for this vulnerable population.