The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
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The Chief Medical Officer's report for 2013 was the first of its kind to highlight the public's mental rather than physical health and thus represents a very important landmark for public health in the UK. Written primarily from the perspective of psychiatrists, the report has created confusion in public health circles by failing to adequately address the public health perspective. David Foreman's editorial in this issue, calling as it does for more training in public health for psychiatrists, is therefore very welcome and timely.
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Psychiatrists are currently ill equipped to exploit the growing interest in public mental health. Training, service infrastructure and organisational links are deficient, which will impede population-based interventions. However, the potential benefits make correcting this worthwhile.
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There is a lack of consensus over fundamental issues in public mental health in England. A move away from poorly evidenced 'well-being' policy approaches is needed. The authors have developed a more inclusive model using the World Health Organization's approach to public mental health. Public mental health policy makers must acknowledge the importance of psychiatry within the field.