The Problem with “Community” in the Mental Health Field

The concept of “community” is ubiquitous in mental health policy, research, and practice in Canada; however, its meaning is rarely defined. In this paper, we consider the positioning of “community” within the Canadian historical and political mental health context and reveal that it contrasts with the lived experiences of people with psychiatric disabilities. We argue that mental health policy, research, and practice should move away from the term community in favour of a framework that addresses basic needs, disability justice, intersecting social identities, and the structural forces that impact the lives of people with psychiatric disabilities as they “recover” in settings outside of hospital.