From policy to praxis--a framework for the delivery of district mental health care in KwaZulu-Natal.

This article provides a schema for the provision of mental health care at district level. A framework for service delivery was derived from research conducted by the Community Mental Health Programme (CMHP) into the development of aspects of a district mental health care system in a semi-rural community area in KwaZulu-Natal. Furthermore, information was drawn from interviews with key stakeholders, national and provincial policy documents as well as international experience in the implementation of community-based systems of mental health care.