The management of the mentally ill patients in Primary Care

Introduction: The evolution of Psychiatry is obviously related to the political, scientific, anthropological and sociological evolution of the society. Although long time hospitalization has been connected to the therapy of chronic psychiatric patients for many years, it is characterized by significant negative consequences which impose changes in the way of management of the chronic mentally ill patients. Aim: The aim of the present study is to update the effectiveness of the Primary Health Care services in the management of the current and the emerging mental health problems, in correlation to the infrastructure, organization, awareness and training of the health professionals and in combination to the integration of mental health in Primary Care. Method: The methodology which was used in this study included Greek and international bibliography review, the official publications of European Union and World Health Organization and the Greek legislation, with the help of key - words. Conclusions: The tendencies of modern mental health care are associated with the de-institutionalization, the given health care at the Community, the early and timely detection of mental disorder, as well as the primary prevention, the reduction of stigma and the inclusion and retention of patients in the community. Primary health care is the appropriate scope for the development of activities and structures of mental health locally and regionally. The mental health care in primary health care, not significantly developed in Greece, is a new and promising field with great potential.