There are wide inconsistencies between, and even within, countriesin how community-orientated care is defined and interpreted. Theanalysis presented in this book take as a starting point anevidence-based balanced care model in which services are providedin community settings close to the populations served, withhospital stays being reduced as far as possible, usually located inacute wards in general hospitals. The surprising conclusion fromthe research is that the same problems arise in all countries,regardless of resource status, and thus the recommendations of thisbook apply to mental health provision everywhere.This book reviews the implementation of community-orientatedcare using the balanced care model. It summarizes the steps,obstacles and mistakes that have been encountered in theimplementation of community mental health care worldwide andpresents guidelines on how to avoid them. It proposes realistic andachievable recommendations for the development and implementationof community-orientated mental health care over the next ten years.These guidelines will be of practical use to psychiatrists andother mental health and public health practitioners at all levelsworldwide, including policy makers, commissioners, funders,non-governmental organisations, service users and carers. A coremessage of the book is that the mental health sector will morepowerfully advocate for better services in future through strongand unified alliances, especially with powerful representation fromconsumer/service user and carer groups.Community-orientated care draws on a wide range ofpractitioners, providers, care and support systems (bothprofessional and non-professional), though particular componentsmay play a larger or lesser role in different settings depending onthe local context and the available resources, especially trainedstaff. Research by a WPA task force has demonstrated that most ofthe challenges are common and global, but with local variations.The book is therefore relevant to psychiatrists and mental healthworkers in developed countries who are trying to deliver betterhealth care on reduced budgets and for those in the developingeconomies who are in the position to modernise their mental healthcare. It provides clear, concise guidance on policy and practicedecisions, learning from what has and has not worked in regions inthe world.The book contains many tables documenting the evidence,supported by an essential reference list, and a Key Points summaryfor each chapter.Highly Commended in the Psychiatry section of the href="http://bma.org.uk/about-the-bma/bma-library/medical-book-awards/medical-book-awards-winners-listing">2012BMA Book Awards.
