Primary healthcare is an approach that caters to the entire society to ensure there is provision of the highest level of healthcare (World Health Organization, 2024). It focuses on improving the well-being of people in terms of fulfilling their health needs, mental health included. Primary healthcare is the most cost-effective and equitable approach to enhancing physical and mental health in society. It has continuously grown, especially in the mid and post-COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic left a lot of long-term health issues around the world, especially mental health issues. According to Novotny et al. (2024), these mental health issues have created the need to integrate mental health services in primary healthcare. The social isolation that came as a result of the lockdowns, among other restrictive measures, increased mental health concerns at a global level. As such, there is a high demand for sustained mental health support among individuals globally. Incorporating mental health services within the primary healthcare infrastructures is crucial to promoting a holistic approach to health wellness in contemporary healthcare.
Physical and mental health care are closely linked to the integrated care models in the healthcare infrastructures. Mental health is an important component of overall health; thus, offering mental health services within these infrastructures will allow patients comprehensive health assessment and treatment. This holistic approach will improve patient outcomes and promote cost efficiency within the healthcare systems. Novotny et al. (2024) highlight that stressors such as loneliness, lack of resilience, and negative emotionality about the pandemic increased mental health issues. The increase in depressive symptoms and stress levels persisted in all the pandemic waves, which had direct implications on the strategies for promoting mental health. The demand for mental health services has increased, thus the need to integrate these services into primary health care.
Incorporating these mental health services will make it easier for individuals with mental health issues to access suitable and timely care for their mental health needs. The healthcare providers in primary healthcare settings are well-trained to support individuals struggling with mental issues in their most convenient places. As such, it will be easy to mitigate the long-term effects caused by the pandemic on mental health and also assist mental health patients in their recovery process.
However, this integration is a challenging task. Wakida et al. (2018) stipulate that there are barriers and facilitators to incorporating mental health services into primary healthcare. Even though the integration has been successfully done in several nations in different forms, there are various challenges. For example, there is the issue of lack of knowledge and skills among some healthcare providers, where some are not in the capacity to diagnose and treat mental illness. Secondly, there is limited mental health awareness in the community, complicating the integration process further. In the wake of COVID-19, such barriers became more relevant. The stigma within these mental issues has intensified due to the psychological impact of the pandemic, hence demanding targeted efforts to receive mental health care. Wakida et al. (2018) also stipulate that there are strain and resource problems in the healthcare systems that require innovative financing to integrate mental services into primary healthcare settings successfully. Thus, an insight into these dynamics is important for the integration process.
Acknowledging that COVID-19 caused long-term effects on mental health is the initial step in the integration of mental health services into primary health care. There are primary healthcare infrastructures within the communities; thus, reaching individuals with mental health issues will be easier. Findings from Wakida et al. (2018) and Novotny et al. (2024) emphasize the need to prioritize mental health within healthcare frameworks, especially in light of the effects of the pandemic. These long-term effects create the urgency to provide accessible and integrated mental health services at accessible healthcare infrastructure. Insights from the findings on the barriers identified by Wakida et al. (2018) shed light on the possible challenges and opportunities linked to incorporating mental health services into primary healthcare settings. Therefore, per these findings, the health care providers, governments, and communities need to work together to assist in delivering this holistic approach to mental health services. It will promote well-being and foster resilience by ensuring individuals receive the comprehensive care they deserve.
References
Novotný, J. S., Gonzalez-Rivas, J. P., Kunzová, Š., Skladaná, M., Pospíšilová, A., Polcrová, A., … & Stokin, G. B. (2024). The long-term effects of consecutive COVID-19 waves on mental health. BJPsych open, 10(1), e15.http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.620
Wakida, E.K. et al. (2018) ‘Barriers and facilitators to the integration of mental health services into Primary Health Care: A Systematic Review,’ Systematic Reviews, 7(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13643-018-0882-7.
World Health Organization, (2024). Primary Health Care> Key facts.https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/primary-health-care#:~:text=%22PHC%20is%20a%20whole%2Dof,to%20treatment%2C%20rehabilitation%20and%20palliative
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