Different Types of Therapeutic Environments


Community Mental Health


The American Psychological Association defines community mental health as “activities undertaken in the community, rather than in institutional settings, to promote mental health”.

The main elements of community mental health include:

  • Focusing on the entire population of a geographic area.
  • Involving overall planning and analysis of the mental health needs of the geographic area.
  • Emphasizing preventative services.
  • Approaching mental health indirectly through consultation and education.
  • Emphasizing brief psychology and crisis intervention.
  • Seeking to provide a continuous, comprehensive system of services to meet mental health needs in the community.
    American Psychological Association

To find community mental health centres close to you, check out the AHS website. You will need to remember what zone you live in and click on that zone in the middle of the page. Scroll down to the bottom of the next page and choose “Children and Adolescent Services”.