This area focuses on improving partnerships between mental health and primary care providers to lead to better outcomes, a better experience of care for the consumer and a more efficient use of resources for individuals with mental health and addiction problems. It addresses three specific areas:
- Expanding the (potential) role of primary care in delivering mental health care
- Innovative models of linking mental health and primary care services
- Enhancing the care of individuals with mental health and addiction problems being seen in primary care
Application to Consumer
Family physicians deliver significant amounts of mental health care in most communities, although the majority of people with mental health and addiction problems receive no formal treatment over the course of a year. Integrating mental health services within primary care is an innovative and effective way for any health system to improve access, reduce waiting, use existing resources more efficiently and increase the skills and comfort of primary care providers in delivering care. This is reflected in many recent provincial and national planning documents which:
- See primary care as the foundation of health care systems and integral to a high-performing healthcare system in any community.
- See primary care an entry point into the mental health and addictions system
- Acknowledge the potential key roles that primary care can play
- Promote the integration of mental health providers within primary care
- Emphasise the importance of training guidelines for future practitioners