Mental health
Primary Care Mental Health
Background
Mental Health problems are common: By 2020 depression is predicted to be second only to cardiovascular disease in terms of disability-adjusted life years. Mental health problems are important because they lead to disability and poor quality of life for the person with the problem, and increased mortality and morbidity from co-morbid physical conditions and suicide. In addition mental health problems are important as they lead to increased use of health care resources.
General Practitioners spend a third of their time on mental health issues and 90% of people with mental health problems are managed solely in primary care. Only people with severe and enduring mental health problems receive secondary care services and even here, about a third of people with a diagnosis of psychosis are treated only in primary care.
Our aims
- To continue to develop and conduct an internationally-recognized programme of multidisciplinary primary mental health care research
- Liaise with key national research and development bodies
- Provide a focal point for primary care research and development in mental health in the North West of England through liaison with other academic and health care institutions
Further information