Key Takeaways
Incorporating mental health into primary healthcare can benefit patients in a variety of ways, including early identification of mental health issues and removing stigma.
There is an urgent need for an administrative and financial shift to properly integrate mental health into primary healthcare. This shift is crucial for the well-being of our population.
Though there is a rise in mental healthcare awareness, we still need to find practical ways through which mental health is given as much importance as physical health.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a consultant cardiologist, says that mental health still doesn’t receive much focus. He quotes:
“While we focus on a patient’s physical health, a focus on mental health remains largely neglected and is very much needed.”
Combining mental health and primary healthcare is one of the best practices to help conquer this problem. In the following, we will understand integrated mental health care, its benefits, and how it can be incorporated for the betterment of the Indian population.
What Is Integrated Mental Health Care?
An integrated mental healthcare model will involve mental and primary care working together to treat patients. Unlike the healthcare we are used to, it will require primary care providers (PCPs) and mental health professionals to work together to constantly coordinate the patient’s treatment plan.
You need to take care of your physical and mental health for proper well-being. Though both are intertwined, healthcare services are delivered separately to people. Because of this, patients can suffer since their mental health conditions are not detected at the onset.
Importance of Integrating Mental Health Into Primary Healthcare
To learn the barriers to integrating mental health into primary healthcare, we first need to understand why this transition should be considered.
Kavita Patel, MD, MSHS, a health policy expert, thinks that integration of behavioral/mental health is in development in India and still requires some work to get the right health model care for the country’s population. She quotes:
“I would say to you that a lot of what we’re seeing in developments in collaborative care comes from people. Like the folks I’ve been privileged to work around who really get it and understand it and are just so thankful that we have policies in place to promote this kind of care. We still have a lot of people in our country, and that includes many providers who don’t understand what their role is. And so some of the research that’s going on right now with the assistance and support of agencies.”
There are numerous benefits to integrating mental health into primary care. Some of them include:
Better access to care
While primary healthcare is easily available in most communities, mental health services and institutions are not as easily accessible. You can access overall health treatment with mental health services combined with primary healthcare.
Helps Remove Stigma
Integrating mental health services into primary healthcare is a crucial step in reducing stigma. When both physical and mental health are given equal importance, society becomes more accepting of mental health conditions.
Better Health Outcomes Through Holistic Approach
When primary healthcare and mental health services work together, it is not only a time saver but can also mean better outcomes! Through this holistic integrated healthcare model, patients will be able to take advantage of a more welcoming and caring healthcare environment through seamless treatment that considers both their physical and mental health needs.
Saves Time
When your health is being focused on not only physically but mentally as well by respective professionals, you are also saving time as you do not have to find mental health services, book appointments, and do more tasks all by yourself.
Thus, mental healthcare integrated with primary healthcare settings is more readily available, reasonably priced, and suitable for the general public.
Ways For Integration
WHO says mental health services should be integrated into primary health care for deinstitutionalization. A study on barriers to integrating mental health services with traditional healthcare found that personnel lack knowledge, skills, and even attitudes
The following are some of how successful integration can be seen when integrating mental health into primary healthcare.
Introduction of mental health policies and laws
If the government introduces mental health legislation with specific effort given to the integration of primary and mental healthcare, it can help formalize the policies. Different plans, laws, detailed strategies, and a legal framework will help enforce this issue.
Inclusion of Mental Health personnel
Whether it be doctors, mental health professionals like psychiatrists or mental health nurses, administration, or social workers, the number of staff members and how they connect with the primary care staff need to be raised so that successful integration is in place.
Mental health specialists can advise on the treatment plan for better overall health outcomes.
Development and training
The medical industry needs sufficient professionals, from general doctors to community health workers, to identify patients’ health issues from all angles. The addition of human resources, especially those who can help coordinate and facilitate the two health services seamlessly, will help make the treatment process go as smoothly as possible.
Adequate mental health training is just as needed for professionals. They should be given on-the-job training, such as continued professional development (CPD), to continue to understand the new updates in the medical industry for the betterment of their patients.
Conclusion
While awareness of the benefits of integrated mental and primary healthcare models is growing, the development of practical models is still in its early stages. It’s crucial that we introduce healthcare models that integrate mental health services into primary care facilities to bring about positive change for the country’s population.
