The basic humanity of people with mental illness is acknowledged by recognizing that they have the same rights and responsibilities, as do other people. Each afflicted individual possesses his or her own unique characteristics and identity, qualities that are often contrary to popular stereotypes. Further, each afflicted individual is recognized as having diverse needs, concerns, strengths, motivations, goals, and disabilities. Effective mental health services require sensitivity to the fact that many of the seriously mentally ill are also elderly, members of ethnic groups, and suffer from multiple disabilities.
Beneficiaries of services are regarded as consumers with the same rights and responsibilities as the consumers of any other service. Families are usually the most important resource of individuals with severe mental illness, are accorded importance and a voice in decision-making. Family members are regarded as “secondary consumers” of services, and as such have consumer rights and responsibilities similar to those of the mentally ill “primary consumers.” The rights, wishes, and needs of primary consumers are paramount in planning and operating the mental health system
Consistent with the original idea of deinstitutionalization, the CSP philosophy regards the community as the best place for providing services for the majority of individuals with serious mental disorders. Local communities are the most knowledgeable regarding their particular environments, issues, gaps, strengths, and opportunities. Flawed implementation of deinstitutionalization, not its basic conceptualization, causes failures in services for the severely mentally ill. Individuals are best served in the community
Resource Book Psychiatric Rehabilitation: Elements of Service for the Mentally Ill pg. 5