Primary mental health

Primary mental health care is a relatively new concept. It is defined by the World Health Organisation as:


1) First line interventions that are provided as an integral part of general healthcare, and
2) Mental healthcare that is provided by primary care workers who are skilled, able and supported to provide mental healthcare services.


The document Integrating Mental Health into Primary Care: A Global Perspective, produced by the WHO and Wonca in 2008, is available for free download from this link:


http://www.who.int/mental_health/policy/services/mentalhealthintoprimarycare/en/index.html


It's worth reading as it gives some important hints as to what primary mental health should look like.