5th International Conference on Primary Care and Global Healthcare

Session Overview

This session examines the integration of mental health promotion, prevention, identification, treatment and continuing care within primary and community-based health services. It focuses on how primary care can become an effective entry point for people experiencing common mental health conditions, psychological distress and psychosocial challenges while strengthening continuity between primary care, specialist mental health services and community support.

The session is particularly relevant to research addressing the mental health–primary care interface, including early identification, collaborative care, stepped-care approaches, integrated service delivery, workforce capacity, digital mental health and equitable access. It also considers how primary-care systems can respond to mental health needs across different populations and health-system contexts.

Sub Tracks

• Integrated Mental Health Services in Primary Care
• Common Mental Disorders & Early Identification
• Community Mental Health & Psychosocial Care
• Mental Health Across the Life Course
• Mental Health Equity & Access to Care

Scientific Scope & Research Areas

The scientific scope encompasses primary-care mental health, community mental health, public mental health, psychiatry, psychology, behavioural health, health services research and implementation science.

Research may examine screening and assessment approaches, collaborative care models, stepped-care interventions, integrated treatment pathways, psychosocial interventions, workforce training, referral systems, patient engagement, digital mental-health interventions and models for long-term follow-up.

A key scientific focus is the translation of evidence-based mental-health interventions into routine primary-care and community settings, particularly where specialist mental-health resources are limited. Research evaluating effectiveness, feasibility, implementation, patient outcomes, service utilisation and equity is especially relevant.

Discussion & Research Areas

• Early identification and management of depression, anxiety and psychological distress in primary care
• Collaborative care models integrating primary care, mental health specialists and community services
• Stepped-care approaches and appropriate referral pathways for mental health conditions
• Suicide prevention, risk assessment and early intervention within primary and community care
• Mental health workforce capacity, training and task-sharing in primary-care settings
• Digital mental health, telepsychiatry and technology-enabled psychological interventions
• Reducing mental-health inequalities, stigma and barriers to accessing community-based care

Who Should Attend / Submit

• Primary Care Physicians & Family Physicians
• General Practitioners
• Psychiatrists & Mental Health Specialists
• Clinical Psychologists
• Public Mental Health Researchers
• Community Mental Health Professionals
• Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurses
• Social Workers & Community Health Professionals
• Behavioural Health Researchers
• Public Health Researchers
• Health Services & Implementation Researchers
• Digital Mental Health Researchers
• University Faculty & Academic Researchers

Keywords

Mental Health | Primary Care | Community Mental Health | Depression | Anxiety Disorders | Integrated Care | Mental Health Services