Effects of the community mental health centers program on the growth of mental health facilities in nonmetropolitan areas

Using a quasi-experimental design, changes in the numbers of mental health facilities between 1964 and 1974 were examined for a sample of 50 nonmetropolitan catchment areas that established a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) before January 1973 and a sample that did not. Compared to non-CMHC areas, CMHC areas had a slightly greater number of general hospital psychiatric units in 1974. Nevertheless, the rate of increase in such units over the 10-year period was not significantly different between the two types of areas. Other findings supported the conclusion that the number of outpatient and day/night facilities continued to increase in areas not participating in the CMHC program, but that the program produced even greater numbers of such facilities in areas that did participate. This growth, though, occurred both through introducing additional facilities and supplanting existing ones.