The World Health Organization defines health as “health is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, it is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being”. Mental disorders contribute more to disease burden and disability in developing countries than any other category of non-communicable disease, yet only a small minority of people with mental disorders in these countries have access to mental health services. The need is high, and care is inadequate.

This year the theme for World Mental Health Day is ‘Mental Health in Primary Care: Enhancing Treatment and Promoting Mental Health’, which has been adopted at an apt time.

“Primary care starts with people. And integrity mental health services into primary care is the most viable way of ensuring that people have access to the mental health care they need. People can access mental health services closer to their homes, thus keeping families together and maintaining their daily activities. In addition, they avoid indirect costs associated with seeking specialist care in distant locations. Mental health care delivered in primary care minimize stigma and discrimination, and remove the risk of human rights violations that occur in psychiatric hospitals. And, as this report will show, integrating mental health services into primary care generates good health outcomes at reasonable costs.

Nonetheless, general primary care systems must be strengthened before mental integration can be reasonably expected to flourish. (Integrating mental health into primary care: A global perspective; World Health Organization of Family Doctors (Wonca), 2008, page VII).”

Mental health problems are one of the leading causes of disability in the world. A large proportion of people with mental disorders around the world fail to receive appropriate help in spite of developments in new treatments for mental illnesses (psychological, social as well as medicinal) and as a consequence suffer in silence. In our country, India –– where majority of the small towns and cities do not even have access to basic health facilities –– mental health care is a far cry. There exists acute shortage of mental health professionals in our country.

Integration of mental health services under the purview of primary health care shall help ensure early detection, treatment and rehabilitation of mentally ill individuals. This shall also help alleviate stigma associated with mental illness and help create awareness amongst the common man.

General physicians, teachers, local leaders, health workers, social workers, etc are more respected at the grass root level. Training and equipping these people with basic skills of identifying and assessing mental illness shall help ensure timely detection and treatment of mental disorders. Further providing first mode of treatment by general physicians ensure early medication. Difficult cases may be referred to specialist doctors, psychologist, and psychiatric social workers for further intervention.