An Agenda for Psychiatric Education in Primary Care

Abstract

Psychiatric epidemiology now highlights the need to improve markedly the delivery of psychological treatments in primary care. There have, however, been significant deficits in the training of practitioners for this role and a lack of ongoing support from specialist mental health services. This paper describes the educational and training agenda for ‘SPHERE: A National Depression Project’. Primarily, the SPHERE Project provides an opportunity for better organising ongoing education and training initiatives for treating common mental disorders in primary care. By having a broad base of interested practitioners the psychological care delivered within any target community may be rapidly expanded. The ongoing involvement of Divisions of General Practice, access to improved technologies and continuous modification of the Project to meet individual practitioners' needs lie at the heart of the Project.