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Medical Definition of Community mental health centre
1. A mental health treatment centre located in a neighborhood catchment area close to the homes of patients, introduced in the 1960's via new federal legislation designed to replace the large state hospitals, which usually were located in remote rural areas; features include offering a series of comprehensive services by one or more members of the four mental health professions, provision of continuity of care, participation of consumers in the centres, community location to provide accessibility, a combination of indirect or preventive and direct services, the use of program-centreed as well as case-centreed consultation, a requirement for program evaluation, and various linkages to a variety of health and human services. (05 Mar 2000)