Developing mental health programs in areas lacking professional facilities: The community consultant approach in New Mexico.

New Mexico has devised a district consultant approach to initiate mental health services in outlying, professionally "underdeveloped" areas. Each multicounty district is served by one locally based, fulltime professional consultant-a psychologist, social workers, or mental health nurse-augmented by a part time traveling psychiatrist. The program has emphasized community development, mainly through consultation, inservice training, and interagency coordination.