What is the definition of a Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI)?

To determine if an individual meets criteria for a having a diagnosed or diagnosable severe and persistent mental illness, the individual must be 18 years of age in addition to meeting the following criteria:

 

Diagnosis

• A diagnosis of a mental disorder according to DSM-5: a major affective, non-organic psychotic disorder or a disorder that may lead to a chronic disability such as a personality disorder

• If the individual is diagnosed with only one of the following, they do not meet eligibility criteria for service:

  • Feeding and Eating Disorders

  • Elimination Disorders

  • Sleep-Wake Disorders

  • Sexual Dysfunctions

  • Paraphilic Disorders

 

Disability

• Meets at least 3 of the 5 categories of functional disability as below:

  • Requires support with instrumental activities of daily living such as managing finances, managing transportation, shopping and meal preparation, house cleaning and home maintenance, managing communication and managing medications.

  • Is unemployed, is employed in a sheltered setting or supportive work situation, or has markedly limited skills and a poor work history

  • Safety concerns related to self or others, or exhibits inappropriate social behavior which results in intervention by the mental and/or judicial system

  • Has difficulty in establishing or maintaining a personal social support system/ limitations or moderate impairment in social functioning

  • Requires public financial assistance from out-of-hospital maintenance and may be unable to procure such assistance without help

• Disability must be the result of mental illness and not primarily relating to an acquired brain injury or developmental disability, etc.

 

Duration

• Duration of at least two years