A descriptive analysis of two mobile crisis programs for clients with severe mental illness

Purpose — To describe cases seen by two Mobile Crisis Programs (MCPs) for individuals with severe mental illnesses. Focus is on client characteristics, mental health status, interventions, referrals, and immediate outcomes.

Methods — Data were collected retrospectively through a chart review of clinical record forms and accompanying progress notes for cases seen by the MCPs over a one-year period. A total of 981 cases were included in the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate statistics.

Results — Most cases involved clients who were female (60.2%), single (55.8%), living at home (56.8%), unemployed (85.6%), and between 20 and 44 years of age (44.5%). The two programs varied on a number of factors related to the demographic profile and mental health needs of the different geographical regions in which they are located.

Conclusions — Findings highlight the need for further research into how MCPs can be integrated with related mental health services in offering clients the least intrusive and most efficient services.