ABSTRACT
The availability of specialist resource relative to the ubiquity of mental illness is key in understanding the importance of primary care, and in how specialist care can support primary care. The important contribution of mental capital for nations is becoming increasingly apparent, and therefore underscores the need for national strategies to promote mental capital and to address the burden of mental disorders. The magnitude of mental disorders may be described in terms of prevalence, disability, chronicity and mortality. A meta-analysis of the quality of medical care for those with comorbid mental and medical illness demonstrated a significant inequality in the receipt of medical care for the severely mentally ill. Patients were either assigned to the integrated care group - where mental health and substance abuse providers were colocated with primary care specialists - or to the enhanced referral group, which referred to specialty mental health/substance abuse clinics.
