A mobile psychiatric unit is an outpatient, community-based psychiatric service, alternative to mental hospital, with proven effectiveness and efficacy. This study presents the development of the Mobile Psychiatric Unit of the prefectures of Ioannina and Thesprotia (M.P.U. I-T), and the results of its operation during the first six-month period of its establishment.

The M.P.U. I-T is a specialized multidisciplinary team which provides psychiatric services and promotes mental health in a rural population of about 100.000 people. A close cooperation with all health care providers within the catchment area has been established. Patients were examined by the M.P.U. staff and medical data were collected in order to identify the needs of the patients living in these remote areas.

344 therapeutic actions have been recorded. 106 (30.8%) were visits at the patients' homes, which indicates their difficulty in accessing the mental health system. During this six-month period the number of the patients was gradually increased, reaching currently a total of 132 patients, whereas 42 patients are permanently followed-up by the M.P.U. In addition, 58 education and promotion activities, 55 meetings with members of primary care services and 27 meetings with members of the local authorities and other corporations have been recorded within the same period.

These preliminary findings provide initial evidence about the increased needs of the rural areas for the development of community-based mental health services. A community-orientated programme based on mobile psychiatric units offers quite satisfactory results in this direction.