Integrating mental health into primary healthcare services through a patient centered digital support layer to improve continuity of care
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Independent Public Health consultant-American university of Beirut, AALST, Belgium
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
health systems increasingly face fragmented care, particularly for individuals with complex and overlapping physical and mental health conditions. patients often move between multiple providers, facilities, and countries, resulting in disconnected information and reduced continuity of care. mental health data remain insufficiently integrated into primary health care, limiting holistic clinical assessment and system efficiency.
METHODS:
this abstract presents a conceptual digital analytical platform designed to integrate mental health data into primary health care workflows. the platform consolidates patient-reported symptoms, clinical encounters, and medical documents from multiple providers into a centralised, patient-controlled system. data are organised into longitudinal timelines and analytically prioritised to highlight clinically relevant patterns. mental health and psychosocial indicators are integrated alongside physical health information to support comprehensive clinical analysis. the platform is designed to assist clinicians by structuring and prioritising information without replacing clinical judgement.
RESULTS:
the proposed platform is expected to improve continuity and coordination of care by reducing information fragmentation across providers and settings. analytical prioritisation supports faster clinical review and more informed decision-making, particularly for patients with complex needs. integration of mental health indicators into routine primary care enables earlier identification of psychosocial concerns and supports more person-centred care delivery. the model is adaptable to resource-constrained and complex health system contexts.
CONCLUSIONS:
digital analytical platforms that integrate mental health into primary health care can strengthen health systems by supporting continuity, clinical prioritisation, and person-centred care. by preserving clinical autonomy while improving access to structured and relevant patient information, this approach offers a scalable solution to enhance quality, equity, and efficiency of care in diverse settings.