About 15% of men and 20% of women in Sweden rate their mental wellbeing as impaired in national surveys using GHQ-12, a validated instrument used internationally for measuring mental wellbeing, early detection and treatment. Primary care is generally the first point of contact, and is responsible for minor mental health problems and onward referrals to specialist care for those with serious mental illness. High quality primary care for mental health problems is especially important in rural areas where access to specialist services may be difficult.