ABSTRACT
The challenge for primary care mental health teams is to maintain the focus of care for those people with SMI and develop new initiatives which support appropriate services for those who present with less serious mental health problems. The consequence of inadequately treated depression and anxiety in the primary care setting is often referral on to mental health services, bringing with it associated difficulties, for example sick role reinforcement, stigma and labelling for this group. The need to use prevention and health promotion for all people with mental health problems is an appropriate area to build and develop into the work of primary care mental health teams, with a view to the provision of greater access to appropriate helping services and agencies. Aside from the need for structured programmes of family therapy, there is a much more general need for the support of informal carers in the community.
