Who Has the Administrative Skills in Mental Health?

THE ASSUMPTION THAT PSYCHIATRISTS ARE QUALIFIED TO ADMINISTER MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS IS WRONG, THE AUTHOR CONTENDS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE AS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES EXPAND FROM THERAPY TO A MORE COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT OF SUCH HUMAN NEEDS AS JOBS, HEALTH, FINANCES, ETC. THE AUTHOR GOES SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT A MEDICAL ORIENTATION MAY EVEN BE A HANDICAP. INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS NEEDED IN MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS DEMAND SKILLS USUALLY COMPLETELY LACKING IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL OR MEDICAL SPECIALISTS CURRENTLY SERVING AS ADMINISTRATORS. THESE SKILLS INCLUDE PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, PLANNING, COMPUTER USE AND JUSTIFICATION, DOCUMENTATION, PERFORMANCE EVALUATION REVIEW TECHNIQUES AND CRITICAL PATH METHOD, AND OPERATIONS RESEARCH STUDIES AND REVIEW. ADDING TRAINING IN THESE SKILLS TO THE PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY CURRICULA WILL NOT DO THE JOB. MANAGEMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH MUST BE TURNED OVER TO PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATORS AS HAS BEEN DONE IN THE CASE OF HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION.