Mental Health: An Integral Approach with Primary Health Care

Abstract

WHO defines health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. But often mental health care is denied for many reasons. One of the many reason is social stigma attached with psychiatric hospital and other thing is non availability of psychiatric hospitals in small town. The solution for this problem is integration of mental health care in to primary health care.  Benefits are significant. On one hand, integration ensures that the population as a whole has access to the mental healthcare that they need early in the course of disorders without disruption. On the other hand, when people receive treatment in primary healthcare facilities the likelihood of better health outcomes, and even full recovery, as well as maintained social integration is increased. This article focus on the various aspects of integration such as its significance in India, principle for successful integration, process of integration including steps and challenges to overcome.

Keywords: Mental health care, primary health care, integration

Cite this Article

Kavitha B. Mental Health: An Integral Approach with Primary Health Care. Research & Reviews: Journal of Neuroscience. 2016; 6(2): 24–28p.