Suicide rate According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pneumonia rates among U.S. children ages 10 to 14 have tripled in 2021 compared to 2007.
Approximately 30% of American adults in 2023 will report being diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives.
It’s clear that as we emerge from the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we must also address another emergency — one that can be transformed by improving access to mental health care in the United States.
As family physicians and psychiatrists, we see, talk to, and listen to patients with mental health issues every day. We see how stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses permeates the workplace, relationships, and even the medical community.
We always explain to our patients and their families that mental illness is a medical issue, just like heart disease or diabetes, and it is treatable. We are well-equipped to have the difficult conversations, connect patients to resources, and prescribe medications and other therapeutic interventions when needed.
But access to mental health care is a problem. High costs and a shortage of behavioral health professionals prevent many patients from getting the care they need. In 2021, only one-third of people diagnosed with a behavioral health illness among those covered by the three major health plans received treatment from a behavioral health professional within the same year.
We need a major paradigm shift, one that goes beyond simply talking about the importance of mental health care to actually making access to this care tangible, equitable, and affordable.
There are ways to improve access to life-saving mental health services, but perhaps the first step is to answer the first question patients ask: “Where do I start?”
The answer, and often the cure, can be found in your family doctor’s office. Family doctors are often the first point of contact for patients entering the health care system, and many people with poor mental health conditions are diagnosed and treated there. In fact, one study found that family doctors provide the majority of care for patients with depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems that aren’t classified as severe.
Given that for many patients, especially in rural and underserved areas, their primary care physician may be their only source of mental health care, it is more important than ever to integrate mental health services and primary care resources.
Early intervention and treatment are key in mental health care. Health outcomes often improve when primary care doctors identify and treat new symptoms or refer patients to psychiatrists. For example, research shows that patients with psychosis and obsessive-compulsive disorder have better outcomes when they have early access to specialist treatment, and young people with borderline personality disorder may function better when they receive treatment.
One promising model of care is for primary care physicians to partner with behavioral health specialists in-place to simultaneously address a patient’s mental and physical health, including symptoms like anxiety and depression. In this integrated behavioral health care model, physicians can facilitate a safe exchange of information and connect patients to other specialists, such as psychiatrists, who can also address further counseling and medication needs. These models are becoming increasingly common, helping to make care more accessible.
If our leaders want to address the alarming mental health crisis in this country, they must get serious about integrating mental health services into primary care settings. Family physicians and psychiatrists know how to do this. We are ready to work with public health and policy officials to avert this worsening crisis.
Making free access to mental health care a reality will require collaboration between the medical community, policymakers, patients and families.
