Mental health encompasses our emotional, social, and psychological well-being and it influences how we think and feel. A sound mind can handle stress well, relate properly with other people and make good choices. Mental health is invaluable at every stage of life, as it is crucial for leading a happy and fulfilling life.
With that said, let’s get to know how quality-based primary care boosts both mental and social health.
The Importance of Mental Health
Mental health is one of the two halves that makes for a healthy individual. Mental health as said earlier; covers our mind’s well-being. Additionally, our mental health influences the body’s resilience to certain diseases. For example, depression sufferer becomes more prone to diabetes and heart disease. In contrast, an individual that has a sound mind has fewer risks of those conditions.
Understanding how to choose a primary care physician can effectively address your mental health concerns can have a life-changing impact. If not just life-changing, they could even impact an entire community’s mental and social health positively.
How Does Quality Primary Care Enhance Mental & Social Health?
Many health clinics are employing a multitude of methods that could improve our mental well-being. The methods can range from intervention methods to educating people about the value of mental health. With that said, let’s cover how quality primary care can improve our mental and social health.
1. An In-Depth Assessment of the Patient’s Mental Health
Primary care providers highly value their patient’s health and have been using comprehensive assessments to analyze the patient’s mental health. Doctors will analyze the patient’s mental health through a series of questions and check whether they have experienced symptoms of mental health disorders. Doctors will also ask their patients if they have been experiencing physical pain such as tightening of the chest or sleep issues.
The primary goal of this in-depth assessment is to pinpoint health issues that could be traced back to the patient’s poor mental health.
2. Usage of Early Intervention and Preventive Measures
Many health clinics in primary care are now using a very proactive approach to addressing mental health problems. One of these methods involves utilizing early intervention and preventive measures for patients experiencing mental health challenges. Doctors and health specialists will use methods such as psychotherapy and medication to curb the effects of mental health issues at their earliest.
One good example is a patient receiving anti-depressants upon discovering that they are starting to experience symptoms of depression. Using early intervention on mental disorders will improve patient outcomes and prevent complications caused by poor mental health.
3. Access to Collaborative Care
Primary care providers are also using collaborative care as a means to remedy various mental health issues. Collaborative care is a medical self-care plan that’s crafted by a diverse team of healthcare specialists and is given to the patient so they can follow what’s prescribed in the self-care plan to improve their well-being.
An example of collaborative care is when psychiatrists and health professionals collaborate to develop a self-care plan for a patient experiencing anxiety. The patient would then follow the routines and medication presented in their personalized self-care plan.
4. Addition of Mental Health Screening During Patient’s Routine Visits
One of the best practices that quality-based primary care centers is implementing the inclusion of mental health screening for patients. The screening takes place every time the patient arrives for their routine check-up or appointment. The doctors will analyze the findings from these screenings to see if their patient is vulnerable to mental health issues or if they can offer more support for better recovery.
On top of that, healthcare providers can offer their patients therapy or counseling to improve mental wellness. If therapy or counseling isn’t enough, they can refer their patients to psychiatric specialists.
5. Identifying Social Determinants to Improve Mental Health Care
Quality based primary care providers must learn to recognize the effects of social factors on their patient’s well-being. Healthcare providers will assess criteria such as the patient’s socioeconomic status, education, and if they can access any mental health resources and support. Through studying these criteria; health clinics and providers can devise apt methods that they can use to assist their communities.
6. Empowering Communities Through Mental Health Education
Sometimes, healthcare systems would conduct campaigns such as awareness seminars to educate the locality on the value of mental health. Providers will take on a proactive role to teach residents how to manage their mental and social well-being. On top of that, healthcare providers will share knowledge on better-coping mechanisms with the community.
Additionally, residents will have access to social support resources and tools necessary for maintaining their mental health.
- In addition to empowering communities, health clinics, and providers can remove the stigma on mental health. By bringing awareness to communities, it can help in normalizing discussions on mental well-being.
People will become more encouraged to seek help if necessary and allow them to speak about their mental health issues. Consequently, eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health fosters a supportive community. Sufferers of various mental problems will appreciate that kind of environment as it is key to recovery.
7. Continuity of Mental Care for Patients
Continuity of mental care means that patients and doctors will still keep in touch after recovery. Doctors will need to be more proactive in checking on their patients. Aside from checking for improvements, continuity of care aims to form long-term relations with the patient. An example here is a psychiatrist checking on their patient after a series of mental health therapies.
The health providers will form a deeper understanding of the patient’s mental and social health needs. On top of that, they can monitor how far have they reached after recovering from their mental illness. Providers can also offer support and interventions when necessary post-recovery. Occasionally, patients may experience relapses, and the availability of support during such times is greatly appreciated.
Quality Primary Care Gives Way to Better Mental Health Care
In summary, quality-based primary care providers employ a variety of approaches to address our mental health concerns. From conducting thorough patient assessments to providing continuous care post-recovery, primary care providers prioritize the well-being of individuals to ensure a successful journey towards psychological well-being.
On top of that, our healthcare providers will continue to study every patient to see how they can serve and build a happy and mentally-resilient community.
