Problems and issues in community mental health service delivery in the 1990s.

With the repeal of the Mental Health Systems Act by the Reagan administration in 1980, the amount of federal dollars allocated to community mental health agencies declined. Perlman and Hartman (1982) surveying mental health administrators' and professionals' perceptions on the major issues to be faced in the 1980s, found that budget reductions were to have the greatest impact on mental health service delivery. To explore problems and issues in mental health service delivery in the 1990s, 272 mental health administrators in county level, public sector organizations from Wisconsin and Michigan were surveyed. Budget effects on service, staff and administration are discussed.