Revisiting health and mental health linkages: a policy whose time has come ... again.

This review and policy analysis examines the connection between physical and mental health. The review includes an analysis of individual diagnoses of physical and mental illness and training issues for both health and mental health professionals. A summary of earlier efforts to link health and mental health services includes a brief history of federal involvement and evaluation of linkage efforts. Linkage examples from a rural context are described briefly. Barriers to successful linkages are discussed with some suggestions for overcoming these obstacles. Policy recommendations for encouraging and establishing health and mental health linkages are presented.