LEVELS OF PREVENTION AND ROLE OF A NURSE:

Caplan describes the levels of  prevention as follows: 

1)  Primary Prevention 

It is concerned with  reduction of  incidence of  new cases of mental disorders in the population by  combating harmful forces that operate in  the community, and  by  strengthening the capacity of  the  people to withstand stress. 

2)  Secondary Prevention 

It  is defined  as reduction of the duration of  mental disorders. 

3)  Tertiary Prevention 

This  is defined as reduction of  the  rate of  residual defects that follow mental disorder in  the affected population.