Mental health promotion and prevention in primary care: What should we be doing vs. what are we actually doing?

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With a push for ‘parity of esteem’ between physical and mental health, there is now a greater focus upon mental health promotion and prevention. The purpose of this review article is to firstly, collate the relevant guidelines on promotion and prevention in a primary care setting, secondly, to identify evidence-based preventive interventions and promotion strategies and finally, to describe the intervention's characteristics and efficacy.Various healthcare databases and mental health charity websites were searched to find policy guidance, position papers and research articles. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the final number of studies included in the synthesis was 32. These 32 studies related to mental health prevention and promotion practices in a primary care setting, representing different presentations and age groups.This article highlights five common themes found within Government guidance and position papers that have particular relevance to mental health prevention and promotion in a primary care setting. A review of the research revealed that preventing depression is an area that has attracted considerable attention. Much less is available for the prevention of anxiety. Prevention and promotional activities for young people focus either on 1:1 and group work, or at reducing risk factors for future difficulties. Much of the research with older adults focuses upon preventing depression and the use of reminiscence activities.A combined approach, relating to building resiliency from existing strengths and then using evidence-based approaches, dependent upon the targeted population, seems to provide an intervention with a good chance of a positive outcome.