A Consumer-Directed and Partnered Community Mental Health Music Therapy Program: Program Development and Evaluation

Abstract

In the developed world, as mental health care continues to move out of institutions and into the community, an emphasis on prevention and health promotion, accountability, and consumer involvement have been identified as fundamental. Currently, most community mental health programs remain grounded in the medical/psychiatric model, however examples based on the psychosocial rehabilitation model and work inspired by a health and wellness/holistic model as well as blended approaches which utilize elements of more than one model are increasing. In the interest of developing the most efficacious, respectful, accountable, and ethical model, a consumer partnered and directed mental health music therapy pilot program was launched at the community clubhouse site of the largest community mental health service provider in the lower mainland of British Columbia in September, 1997. This article will describe the process of the development of the program, demonstrate how it functions, present the results of a consumer evaluation of the program, and discuss plans for the future.