What does "assertive community treatment" (ACT) primarily focus on?

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) primarily focuses on a team-based approach to mental health support. This model is designed for individuals with severe mental health conditions who may have difficulty accessing or benefiting from traditional mental health services. In ACT, a multidisciplinary team provides comprehensive, around-the-clock support tailored to the specific needs of each individual. This collaborative approach includes professionals from various fields, such as psychiatry, nursing, social work, and vocational rehabilitation, ensuring that all aspects of the person’s life are addressed.

The core idea is to deliver support directly in the community rather than in a clinical setting, fostering meaningful engagement in the individual's daily life and helping them achieve personal goals. The team works closely with the individual to provide personalized services, ranging from crisis intervention to assistance with daily living skills, in a continuous and integrated manner.

While elements like consumer-driven processes, individual-centered treatment plans, and outpatient therapy are important in the broader context of mental health treatment, they do not encapsulate the primary focus of ACT, which is its reliance on a cohesive, collaborative team approach.