TY - JOUR KW - Community Mental Health Services/legislation & jurisprudence KW - Health Services Accessibility/legislation & jurisprudence/organization & administration KW - Humans KW - Mental Disorders/therapy KW - Mental Health/legislation & jurisprudence KW - Mental Health Services/legislation & jurisprudence/organization & administration KW - Primary Health Care/legislation & jurisprudence/organization & administration KW - Qualitative Research KW - Community mental health care KW - mental health legislations KW - primary mental health care AU - Getinet Ayano A1 - AB - BACKGROUND: Mental health legislation (MHL) is required to ensure a regulatory framework for mental health services and other providers of treatment and care, and to ensure that the public and people with a mental illness are afforded protection from the often-devastating consequences of mental illness. AIMS: To provide an overview of evidence on the significance of MHL for successful primary care for mental health and community mental health servicesMethod: A qualitative review of the literature on the significance of MHL for successful primary care for mental health and community mental health services was conducted. RESULTS: In many countries, especially in those who have no MHL, people do not have access to basic mental health care and treatment they require. One of the major aims of MHL is that all people with mental disorders should be provided with treatment based on the integration of mental health care services into the primary healthcare (PHC). In addition, MHL plays a crucial role in community integration of persons with mental disorders, the provision of care of high quality, the improvement of access to care at community level. Community-based mental health care further improves access to mental healthcare within the city, to have better health and mental health outcomes, and better quality of life, increase acceptability, reduce associated social stigma and human rights abuse, prevent chronicity and physical health comorbidity will likely to be detected early and managed. CONCLUSION: Mental health legislation plays a crucial role in community integration of persons with mental disorders, integration of mental health at primary health care, the provision of care of high quality and the improvement of access to care at community level. It is vital and essential to have MHL for every country. AD - Research and Training Department, Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa. ayanogetinet@yahoo.com. BT - African journal of primary health care & family medicine C5 - Healthcare Policy CP - 1 CY - South Africa DO - 10.4102/phcfm.v10i1.1429 IS - 1 JF - African journal of primary health care & family medicine LA - eng M1 - Journal Article N2 - BACKGROUND: Mental health legislation (MHL) is required to ensure a regulatory framework for mental health services and other providers of treatment and care, and to ensure that the public and people with a mental illness are afforded protection from the often-devastating consequences of mental illness. AIMS: To provide an overview of evidence on the significance of MHL for successful primary care for mental health and community mental health servicesMethod: A qualitative review of the literature on the significance of MHL for successful primary care for mental health and community mental health services was conducted. RESULTS: In many countries, especially in those who have no MHL, people do not have access to basic mental health care and treatment they require. One of the major aims of MHL is that all people with mental disorders should be provided with treatment based on the integration of mental health care services into the primary healthcare (PHC). In addition, MHL plays a crucial role in community integration of persons with mental disorders, the provision of care of high quality, the improvement of access to care at community level. Community-based mental health care further improves access to mental healthcare within the city, to have better health and mental health outcomes, and better quality of life, increase acceptability, reduce associated social stigma and human rights abuse, prevent chronicity and physical health comorbidity will likely to be detected early and managed. CONCLUSION: Mental health legislation plays a crucial role in community integration of persons with mental disorders, integration of mental health at primary health care, the provision of care of high quality and the improvement of access to care at community level. It is vital and essential to have MHL for every country. PP - South Africa PY - 2018 SN - 2071-2936; 2071-2928 SP - e1 EP - e4 EP - T1 - Significance of mental health legislation for successful primary care for mental health and community mental health services: A review T2 - African journal of primary health care & family medicine TI - Significance of mental health legislation for successful primary care for mental health and community mental health services: A review U1 - Healthcare Policy U2 - 29781692 U3 - 10.4102/phcfm.v10i1.1429 VL - 10 VO - 2071-2936; 2071-2928 Y1 - 2018 Y2 - Mar 29 ER -