With increasing international emphasis on care in the community and pressure on resources, the prevention of mental illness within primary care is becoming an important consideration. Up to a third of patients presenting to primary care services are suffering from psychological problems and the large majority are dealt with by the primary health care team. Within this volume, experts from a wide range of mental health care disciplines discuss issues ranging from primary prevention with identification of risk through to early identification of problem symptoms and the effective management of long-term mental illness. With full reference to the current state of research, emphasis has been given to practical measures that can be readily utilised in the primary care setting. This handbook will serve as an invaluable resource for all those with interests in the protection and conservation of mental health. This book was highly commended in the Primary Care category of the British Medical Association Book Award.