ABSTRACT
In recent years, mental health professionals have become highly sensitive to the pervasiveness of mental health disorders and the mounting cost of treatment. Although the goals of preventive interventions in mental health are to optimize development and minimize developmental problems, and given that prevention represents substantial benefits to society as a whole, preventive programmatic efforts are few. The preventive approach is not given high priority in present mental health delivery paradigms. However, the economic climate and social philosophy regarding the health care delivery system has changed. It requires that professionals evaluate the organized health care delivery system in order to incorporate and maximize preventive interventions, rather than solely provide remedial intervention programs.
