Integration of mental health services into primary health care in India: scope and challenges

Abstract

Mental health disorders are a major concern with millions of people living with mental illnesses, but only a small fraction of them have access to treatment due to stigma attached, lack of resources and trained personnel. Therefore, the inclusion of mental healthcare services in primary health care (PHC) is essential for improving its accessibility. The present review investigates the effectiveness, the different models, and the barriers in integrating mental health services into primary health care in India. The review was conducted following the PRISMA protocol using database like PubMed and Scopus between January 2016 and January 2026. The systematic search yielded 62 results, of which 23 were selected based on established inclusion criteria and were subsequently analyzed thematically. Successful integration of mental health services into primary healthcare was identified as including, but not limited to, task-sharing, use of digital technologies, use of telepsychiatry, and creating an improved policy-driven system. Task-sharing with lay personnel was found to greatly increase the identification and management of people with mental illnesses, while digital technology and telepsychiatry led to better access to mental health services, especially in rural areas. Barriers to implementing integrated mental health services included a lack of training, stigma, insufficient workforce, and limited infrastructure. Integrated mental health services into primary healthcare exist and demonstrate positive results, but to sustain successful implementation, the identified barriers to integration must be eliminated or mitigated to reduce the existing treatment gap for mental illness in India.