Twelve years on: service use and costs for people with mental health problems who left psychiatric hospitals

Background: Few studies have estimated the full costs of moving people from long-stay psychiatric hospitals to community residence. Fewer still have examined the long-term implications of this important component of mental health policy.Aims: To assess the full service and cost implications of community care for people who moved from long-stay psychiatric hospitals 12 years ago. To explore the associations between costs and people's characteristics, needs and outcomes.Method: Data were collected from 128 people in seven English localities that were part of the 1983 Care in the Community Initiative. For a sub-sample of 75 people, changes in resource use between 1 and 12 years after leaving hospital were assessed.Results: Most people live in staffed accommodation supported by a range of community-based services. Mean community care costs (£555 per week) are lower than long-stay hospital residence or community costs 1 year later.Conclusions: High support homes, in-patient beds, and day care services are cost...