RURAL PSYCHIATRY IN DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES

During the last two decades several initiatives have been taken to imp rove psychiatric services ill low-income rural areas in developing cou ntries. They have included the formulation of national mental health p rograms and establishment of pilot programs for integration of mental health care with primary health care in India, Iran, and other countri es in Asia, Africa, and South America. The psychiatrist has multiple r oles to play in meeting the many challenges of providing mental health care in rural areas in developing countries.