Studies On Community Mental Health Services Of LongHu District In Shantou

Background:Mental health issues have already become major public health problems and more prominent social issues. Lots of foreign practice has confirmed that community mental health services can not only save medical costs and integrate social resources, but also facilitate the return of patients with mental disorders to society. By far, mental illness has ranked first in the total burden of diseases in China. In the face of this grim situation, community mental health work in China has gradually developed, but there are still quite a lot of problems such as inadequate prevention and management, lack of workforce, significant regional differences, weak community management and rehabilitation measures and so on; these problems have impacted on the good development of the community mental health services.Objective:Through community mental health services in Longhu District, Shantou City; it is aimed to investigate sociological characteristics and social functions of mental disorders in Longhu District; to investigate the current situation of social support for patients; to investigate the basic conditions of existing community mental health services for patients with mental disorders; to lay basis for the further development of needs and utilization of community mental health services and related policy research, but also to provide a scientific basis for measure-taking for further development of the community mental health services and decision-making of government.Materials and methods:The study subjects were registered patients with mental disorders. The patients or their family members who get the medicine in Longhu District of Shantou City were investigated on the conditions of patients. On-site investigation was done using random sample. Self-designed questionnaire was used, including three parts: (1) questionnaire of general information of patients; (2) questionnaire of knowledge of mental health; (3) questionnaire of needs and utilization of community mental health service, Social Disability Screening Scale(SDSS),Social Support Rating Scale(SSRS).Data was inputed in computer and Excel 2003 and statistical software SPSS l3.0 were used for analysis .Results:(1) A total of 200 people were surveyed and a total of 143 were enrolled, with response rate of 71.5%, most of whom were patients with schizophrenia; with the average of SDSS total score showing 5.93±4.88, the rate of social disability accounting for 76.9%. The most severe of which were occupation and job, interest and concern about others, responsib ility and plan, less activities out home, social withdraw. The SDSS total score was significantly different in marriage and career. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the factors influencing SDSS total scores were the higher SSRS total scores and the worse currently work. (2) the average of social support scale total score was 33.70±8.21, statistically significant in gender, age, marriage and living models. The SSRS total scores and its factor scores were negatively correlated with the SDSS scores, and SSRS total scores and subjective support points were negatively correlated with frequency of hospitalization. Multiple linear regression analysis showed the factors that affect the SSRS total scores were the SDSS total scores and settlement pattern. (3) The knowledge of mental health was very poor, and the current way of supply of community mental health service was simple, which was based mainly on free delivery of drugs; patients are expecting for mental health services including family guidance, rehabilitation training as well as environment and social support.Conclusions and suggestions:(1) The current prevention and treatment of mental health in Longhu District is mainly provided for patients with schizophrenia; so it is narrow for the range of the service subjects, and the population receiving community mental health service should be expanded; (2) A good marriage, continueous articipation in social work after a stable condition and effective social support network can slow down social disability of patients with mental disorders, and promote recovery of social function; family intervention and guidance of rehabilitation should be done and a harmonious society and living environment should be built to promote an early return of patients to society; (3) Patients with mental disorders have lack of knowledge of mental illness and community mental health services is simple; there is an imbalance of supply and demand of mental health services; investment in building community mental health should be increased, effective hospital - community transition areas should be established; through various forms of mental health services and multiple channels, health education of mental illnesses should be provided for patients and their families as well as the general population in the community; activities of skills training should be promoted for recovery of family and social function of patients with the greatest possible.