Task force report: sociophysical settings and mental health: opportunities for mental health services planning

President Kennedy's "bold new approach" remains compelling 15 years after it was first announced. Mental health services at the community level have come a long way since the community mental health center program's establishment in 1963. Mental health manpower, advances in treatment technology, and volumes of service all have grown remarkably; but much still remains to be done to integrate community mental health services into the communities they serve in the planning of human services generally, and particularly in emphasis on preventive care. The National Council of Community Mental Health Centers Environmental Assessment Task Force has two closely related charges in these latter areas. First, to inquire into the "environmental" aspects of mental health at the community level; and, second, to explore environmental perspectives for the establishment of prevention initiatives in the delivery of services. This paper explores that charge by seeking a perspective on environment that traces the intersection of the built environment and social-interpersonal behavior with special attention to the implications for mental well-being. Implications of this perspective for community mental health center roles in community planning are considered, with reference to the establishment of preventive services.