Targeting Opportunities for Change: Mental Health Promotion in Primary Care

Abstract

National policy directions currently provide an environment in which mental health promotion activities can be widely supported in health and related arenas. Several recent national reports have identified the importance of primary care, especially in general practice settings, as the principal point of entry to the Australian health care system. A broad overview of the current policy climate prefaces a discussion of the opportunities for mental health promotion in the primary care sector, focusing on general practice settings and using depression as an example. Implications and consequences related to training of the mental health workforce, with special reference to roles for psychologists are discussed. Finally, recommendations are made for future directions in mental health promotion and prevention research in primary care.