The authorities of Guinee-Bissau started a programme to introduce mental health care as part of primary health care. A study was carried out in rural areas and in the capital of Guinee-Bissau. As a part of it, patients who were attending primary health care facilities were examined to determine how many were suffering from mental disorder. In the capital 19% of the patients were suffering, in the rural areas 12%, only a part of them are diagnosed as such by the local health workers. Also attitudes towards and knowledge of mental disorders have been studied by interviewing key informants. There were some differences in results between the city and the rural areas. The article describes these differences and the consequences they have for extending mental health care as part of the primary health care.