Self-referrals to a community mental health centre: a three year study.

The records of all 53 clients who referred themselves to a community mental health centre in the first three years of its existence were studied retrospectively. These showed increasing and generally appropriate use of direct access for the relief of serious, often long-standing emotional distress. Self-referrals were much more often men than women, and some clients would probably not have been reached in any other way. The service seemed to reduce the local GPs'burden, at least subjectively. However, no-one presented with acute psychiatric disturbance or immediately impending breakdown. Any prevention achieved seems likely to be long-term rather than short-term.