Evaluation of Community-Based Mental Health Services in the Framework of SWOT Analysis From the Perspective of Health Providers and Service Recipients: A Case Study

Aim

This study is a case study that aims to evaluate community-based mental health services from the perspective of health providers and service recipients through SWOT analysis.

Methods

This qualitative case study was conducted through in-depth interviews with five healthcare providers providing services in a community mental health centre and five individuals with severe mental disorders receiving services. The data were analysed by content analysis.

Findings

As a result of the content analysis of the data, subthemes were identified under the main themes of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. For service recipients; under the theme of strengths, the subthemes of multidimensional support systems and treatment adherence, and under the theme of weaknesses, the subthemes of insufficient physical environment and insufficient attention were identified. Under the theme of opportunities, the subthemes of awareness, self-confidence, employment/financial gain, sharing/socialization and problem solving were identified, while under the theme of threats, the subthemes of economic constraints and feeling uncomfortable were revealed. For health providers; under the theme of strengths, the subthemes of holistic approach, early intervention and stigma prevention, under the theme of weaknesses, the subthemes of lack of resources, lack of standards, unqualified team members, inadequate professional/in-service trainings were revealed. Under the theme of opportunities, the subthemes of autonomous working environment, support systems and aids, and training programmes were identified, while under the theme of threats, the subthemes of economic constraints, stigma exposure, political deficiencies, staff reluctance/burnout, negative perceptions about the centre, and gettıng complacent were identified.

Conclusion

Community-based mental health services contain strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats according to the views of both health providers and service recipients, and the views of the groups overlap with each other within the supply-demand mechanism. It can be said that the effectiveness of community-based mental health services will increase by preventing threats by improving weaknesses and increasing the visibility of opportunities by recognizing strengths.