Mental health training of primary health care workers

Abstract

Evidence suggests that providingsupport to primary health carewith training, assistance and supervision by available mental health professionals is the best way to extend mental health care to the population. Three cases of mental health training programmes for primary health care workers were implemented in diierent countries, and are described in this article.The objective was to share the lessons learnt in diierent settings. Relevant primary and secondary data were used to present the cases.The mental health trainings generally improved the mental health knowledge of primary health care workers. More sustainable changes in theirmental health care practices were achieved only as a result ofseveralfactors combined together: a) professionally designed and implemented mental health training; b) motivation by all key players to develop community mental health services; c) political will by the government followed by formulation of mental health policy promoting integration of mental health into primary care; d) good timingof the programme; and e) in£ux of funding and professional expertise.The ¢ndings of this article support the viewpoint of the World Health Organization that mental health training for primary health care workers is just one of the factors necessary for the successful integration of mental health care into primary health care.