Integrating mental health care into primary care will require big changes

Hill December 26, 2019
Hewett Chiu

Imagine a visit to your primary care doctor that did as much to assess and treat your mental health as it did your physical health. How would such an encounter differ from the ones most of us are accustomed to? Your doctor would ask about your mental wellbeing along with questions about your diet, exercise, lifestyle choices and social behaviors such as smoking. He or she would integrate behavioral health counseling into your physical health care, providing guidance so you can self-manage your medication, nutrition and exercise.

Under this scenario, a physician’s primary care practice would be fluent in behavioral health clinical guidelines and standards of care, confident in clinical decisions, and deeply familiar with the community social supports...

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