HEALTH ++ WELLNESS WELLNESS HEALTH
WHY IT ’ S TI M E TO TAL K TO YOUR PR I M ARY CARE PR OVID E R A B OUT YOUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH story by Ryan Gilbert, MD, HopeHealth
Most relationship experts agree that the key to any healthy relationship is a foundation built on honesty and communication. Whether it be with your partner, your children, or a good friend, problems always appear when people keep secrets, withhold the truth, or bottle up their thoughts and feelings on critical issues. Honesty and communication are also essential when it comes to building a successful partnership with your primary care provider (PCP). When you fail to disclose health issues you are experiencing, especially challenges with your mental health, it can interfere with your provider’s ability to deliver quality care, producing negative health care outcomes. Without open and honest dialogue about a patient’s mental health, PCPs don’t have all the pieces of the puzzle to address medical problems, which can lead to additional and unnecessary testing, misdiagnosis, and ineffective treatments. This may ultimately cost the patient more time, more money, and most importantly, their well-being. So why are some patients reluctant to talk to their PCP about their mental health? Some reasons might include:
• Embarrassment or a fear of judgment - While attitudes towards and care for mental health have certainly improved over the decades, many people still feel embarrassed when discussing their mental health and fear stigma associated with mental illness that could impact their standing in the community or their career. Others may have a self-stigma that accepting treatment to better their mental health is an admission of weakness or a shameful character flaw, discouraging patients from asking for help. Part of addressing mental health is to overcome and reframe these misconceptions as medical care, similar to treating hypertension or diabetes, all without judgment.
• Desire to not inconvenience the provider - Some patients minimize the importance of their mental health and refrain from telling their provider when they are struggling because they don’t want to trouble them or “waste their time.” While it is true that doctors, nurse practitioners, and other health care providers are always busy, our priority is always to take care of the patient first, and all of their health, not just physical health. Be open with your provider about how you are doing so you can get the support you need and deserve. 12
VIPMagSC.com
May 2022
