Perceptions of safety regarding current living arrangements among persons treated at Hawaii Community Mental Health Centers

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

3323.0: Monday, November 11, 2002 - Board 6

Abstract #47667

Annette Crisanti, PhD¹, A. Michael Wylie, PhD², Keith Claypoole, PhD¹, and James E. Hall, PhD¹. (1) Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii, 2430 Campus Road, Gartley 210, Honolulu, HI 96744, 808-236-8423, crisanti@hawaii.edu, (2) Adult Mental Health Division, Department of Health, 1250 Punchbowl St. #256, Honolulu, HI 96813

There are many studies in the literature examining safety concerns for persons with mental illness. However, studies such as those investigating the relationship between mental illness and violence, or those attempting to predict dangerousness, or those measuring levels of stigma all focus on issues regarding community safety. Much less is known about the perceptions of safety among individuals with mental illness. The purpose of this study is twofold. The first objective will be to explore consumers' perceptions regarding the safety of their current living arrangements. The second objective will be to determine whether certain characteristics (e.g., diagnosis, housing status) differentiate individuals who do not feel safe from individuals who report feeling safe in their living arrangements. A cross-sectional design will be used and the sample will include persons who were treated for serious and persistent mental illness at Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) in Hawaii between 1998 and 2001. Individuals with mental illness are a highly vulnerable population that have the right to feel safe in their living arrangements and this study will explore their perceptions of safety as related to their living arrangements. In a study by Perese (1997) rehospitalization and emergency room visits were affected by unmet needs of safety. Therefore, identification of persons more likely to feel unsafe may facilitate interventions targeted at improving consumers' sense of safety, which may also decrease use of inpatient and crisis services.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

3. Recognnize the extent to which individuals with SPMI feel safe or unsafe with current living arrangements.
7. Identify which individuals with SPMI are more or less likely to feel unsafe in their living arrangements (i.e., identification of risk factors).
11. Discuss which interventions may faciliate the improvement of consumers' sense of safety with respect to current living arrangements.

Keywords: Housing, Safety

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Adult Mental Health Division, Department of Health, State of Hawaii
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Mental Health Posters II: Services for Persons with Schizophrenia and Other Serious Mental Illnesses

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA