Integration of Mental Health in Primary Care: Insights for Enhanced Program Delivery

Abstract

The integration of mental health in primary care was considered one of the best strategies to address the increasing incidence of mental health disorders. This study determined the level of mental health integration in primary care in the province of Capiz and the level of challenges of primary health workers in the process of integration in terms of knowledge, skills, and health system constraints encountered. The 381 primary health workers were surveyed using a validated and reliability-tested researcher-made questionnaire. The results revealed that the level of mental health integration in the province of Capiz based on primary health practice was only slightly integrated. Primary health workers were highly challenged in the process of integration in terms of their knowledge and skills, which therefore needs enhancement. They were also highly challenged by the health system constraints encountered in the different areas of the current health system, which necessitates support from the Local Government Unit (LGU). The mental health integration level and the challenges of primary health worker respondents when grouped according to profile disclosed a significant difference. Moreover, their level of challenges as to their knowledge, skills, and health system constraints encountered did not significantly affect the level of mental health integration.