Mental Health in Primary Care: What Cases Family Doctors can Manage Independently
Mental health problems often present at the primary care level. Sometimes, a patient shares only somatic complaints with their family doctor and does not mention any emotional or psychological problems at all. In some cases, these complaints may be related to underlying mental health problems. This is why strengthening the mental health component of primary care is particularly important: the family doctor is the first point of contact for many patients. Against this background, it is especially important for family doctors to be able to identify problems in a timely manner, assess their severity accurately and, where necessary, manage the patient or refer them to a mental health specialist.