THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE PSYCHIATRIC WALK-IN CLINIC IN A HIGHLY DEPRIVED COMMUNITY

Abstract

1. A major problem exists concerning the use of psychiatric facilities by people in economically deprived areas. It is suggested that the walk-in clinic may be a means of meeting this need; however, studies have indicated that people from such an area would be unlikely to make use of such a facility on a voluntary basis. The present study analyzed the intake data on 682 patients seen during a 6-month period in a walk-in clinic servicing such a deprived area. 2. The data collected show that: i. The patient group as a whole was of low socio-economic level; ii. The rate of self-referral in this group was 16%; iii. 46% of the patients presented their problems in psychological terms; iv. The self-referred group did not differ meaningfully from a clinic-referred group on a series of social variables 3. It is concluded that even without a community educational program, the walk-in clinic did make a contact with a significant number of residents of this deprived area.