Abstract

Mental health disorders constitute a significant global health burden, with disproportionately high impacts in low-resource settings due to limited access to specialized care. Primary healthcare (PHC) offers a strategic entry point for early identification and management of mental health conditions; however, integration remains inconsistent due to fragmented services, workforce constraints, and insufficient policy guidance. This proposes a systems-level policy framework to facilitate the systematic incorporation of mental health screening into PHC in low-resource environments. The framework emphasizes multi-tiered coordination, encompassing governance, workforce development, service delivery, information systems, and community engagement. Policy and governance structures provide the foundation for resource allocation, regulatory standards, and inter-sectoral collaboration, ensuring sustainability and accountability. Workforce development focuses on capacity building, including task-shifting to non-specialist health workers and continuous training to enhance screening proficiency and early intervention. Service delivery integration involves embedding standardized, culturally appropriate screening tools into routine PHC workflows, complemented by clearly defined referral pathways for complex cases. Health information systems are designed to support data-driven decision-making, enabling monitoring, evaluation, and iterative refinement of integration strategies. Community engagement addresses societal barriers, including stigma and low mental health literacy, fostering patient-centered care and local ownership. Implementation strategies highlight the importance of pilot programs, scalable interventions, and partnerships with non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and international agencies. By adopting a systems-level perspective, the framework provides a coherent roadmap for sustainable integration, promoting early detection, timely intervention, and improved mental health outcomes. Future research should focus on empirical validation, digital health integration, and context-specific adaptation to maximize impact. Overall, this framework offers policymakers, health administrators, and practitioners a structured approach to embedding mental health screening into PHC, bridging critical gaps in service provision in low-resource settings.