The marketing approach as a model for mental health needs assessment.

This article compares the marketing approach of private business to the mental health planning process as it relates to needs assessment. It is the authors' assumption that the future of mental health programs will depend on careful planning designed to exhibit fiscal responsibility and program accountability. It is concluded that private business is an appropriate resource for planning strategies in mental health, and one that mental health administrators can readily turn to, especially in time of shrinking revenues for human service programs.