In modern conditions, expanding the professional competence of primary health care doctors on mental health issues is the only possible solution to the problem of identifying and providing medical care to patients with nonpsychotic mental disorders. This article disputes the main arguments of opponents of the indicated point of view. Studies conducted in as a part of Federal target program «Prevention and control of socially significant diseases» (2007—2012) demonstrated that most primary care physicians consider it necessary to acquire additional psychiatric skills. In addition, this article discusses the main difficulties encountered when working with patients suffering from mental disorders. Particular attention is paid to the development of communication skills programs for doctors. It is concluded that the involvement of primary care physicians in the mental health care of patients should be based on a set of educational and organizational measures. The model of medical and psychological support developed at the Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry may be used as a useful example of updating community-based psychiatric care.