Discussions by:
Herbert H. Aptekar, PhD, Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass
William H. Key, PhD, The Menninger Foundation, University of Denver, Denver, Colo.
Arthur L. Kobler, PhD, clinical psychologist, Seattle
IN MARCH, 1966, I learned that several leaders of community mental health programs in the state of Oregon had resigned within the previous six months. The leaders were, for the most part, directors of community mental health clinics (eight); another was director of the State Mental Health Division.
The present paper is composed primarily of an analysis and discussion by three behavioral scientists of interviews with most of these leaders and an additional group of mental health leaders who had not resigned. There is also a section of concluding comments.
No available statistics exist on the baserate of resignations of mental health leaders. Therefore, there is no valid way of deciding if the series