Preventive psychiatry: Overview

Preventive psychiatry aims at the reduction of mental disorders and behavioural problems by identifying risk and protective factors and applying evidence-based interventions in the framework of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. Preventive psychiatry located within a public mental health framework provides an opportunity to recognise important preventive elements in the existing psychiatric practice. Mental health professionals have several important roles to play in the prevention field. These include role of mental health advocates, technical advisers, program leaders, researchers and preventive care providers