Primary prevention and action on the social determinants of health

A public mental health approach focusses on improving mental wellbeing and preventing mental ill health at a population level, enabling individuals and communities to lead more fulfilling lives and to build mental resilience, being better able to endure and recover from life’s challenges. It also aims to develop stronger, inclusive communities which create an environment conducive to good mental health and wellbeing, supporting and nurturing one another. In short it is a public or population health approach to mental health and wellbeing. 

Public health interventions are traditionally grouped into primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.  

• Primary prevention aims to tackle fundamental causes; to reduce exposure to determinants of poor health and increase exposure to determinants of good mental health and wellbeing. 
• Secondary prevention aims to mitigate the impact of negative outcomes which have already occurred or which we are currently unable to prevent occurring. 
• Tertiary prevention aims to prevent further deterioration or negative impacts of ongoing health problems and includes living well with long term conditions.