NEIGHBOURS' REACTIONS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES: CONTRASTS BEFORE AND AFTER SERVICES OPEN IN THEIR LOCALITY

Neighbours in three Irish localities were interviewed before a group home or a small local day service opened in their neighbourhood. Two years later, 148 people were re-interviewed. In addition, 94 people from two neighbouring contrast areas were also included in the study. No community facilities opened in these areas. In areas where a service had opened, neighbours reported increased contact with people who had a mental handicap; many fewer problems occurred than they had initially anticipated and an apparent drop in their willingness to be involved in helping. Residents in the contrast areas showed no such changes. These results are compared with those obtained in an earlier national survey and the implications are drawn for strategies aimed at educating and involving local communities.