The concept of primary prevention: Creating new paradigms

These five topics are different from many of the traditional professional activities of the mental health professions. They have been presented to clarify how the ambiguity of prevention work can be explored and how the substantive merit of primary prevention is increased. The complementary connections between the social sciences and the clinical professions is expected to be enhanced in working on these agendas. The challenge for preventive work is to bring together the insight of citizens and professionals, so that critical thinking and authentic needs for both can be integrated. Working on ideas such as these five can make it possible for professionals and citizens to develop new knowledge for new professional roles and new opportunities for citizen development. Here the professional and citizen become resources for each other, in contrast to the professional "treating" the "subject" or "patient." Prevention work means creating knowledge that is available directly for community development in contrast to individual treatment.