Primary Care on the Front Lines of Behavior Health: Inclusion of Mental Health Assessments During Annual Physicals
As with any health condition, early detection of behavioral health issues contains a better prognosis if diagnosed and treated in its beginning stages.
Preventative care for mental health is vital for living a long and healthy life. If left untreated, some mental health conditions can increase the chances of:
Respiratory disease
Cancer
Heart disease
Although the exact science behind this is still being researched, preliminary data indicates that one reason behind this staggering statistic is that those struggling with their mental health are much less likely to be seen by a physician for routine exams. This leads to problematic physical ailments—such as obesity, cholesterol, and blood pressure—remaining unchecked. Furthermore, unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as smoking or drinking, are often used to the detriment of the patient’s health. (Reference 1)
Primary Care as a Primary Source
Our primary care providers are the most visited and sought-after physicians in the country and can be considered the glue keeping our healthcare system together. For most, a visit to their primary care doctor is the only way to receive a referral to a specialist. And, while anyone can seek behavioral therapy on their own, many people underestimate the severity of their mental health—brushing it off and expecting it to get better.
Although some mental health struggles can be brought on by temporary circumstances—such as grief, work stress, or seasonal affective disorder—it can be difficult for patients to distinguish the difference between acute and chronic on their own. Is the cause of their depression stemming from a series of unfortunate events or is it more serious?
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 60 percent of US adults with mental illness do not receive treatment. Moreover, 50 percent of afflicted children ages 8-15 are also not seen by a mental health professional. (Reference 2) In comparison, the CDC released data in 2019 showing the number of Americans that visited the office of a primary care physician in the past year was just over 50 percent for adults and 93.9 percent for children. (Reference 3)
Early Testing For Pediatric Patients
As of 2018, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its guidelines to reflect that adolescents ages 12 and older should be tested annually for depression or other depressive disorders. (Reference 4) For many school districts in the US, annual physicals are required for children upon registration each year—making annual physicals the perfect time to perform a behavioral health screening.
From several epidemiological studies performed in the past, the vast majority of adults who have previously been diagnosed with mental health conditions can have their symptoms traced back to their childhood.
The most common signs of a child struggling with their mental health include (but are not limited to):
Depression
Anxiety
Learning disabilities
Conduct problems
ADHD
Childhood is a critical timeframe for the onset of certain problems. Mental health is a process that changes in each individual, however, it does not always get better with each case. Screening throughout the year allows physicians to identify children who could meet a diagnosis and benefit from intervention.
Unfortunately, the problems that children and their parents face are lengthy waiting lists and finding someone who takes their insurance. With a sigh of relief, pediatricians can now access the resources needed to evaluate their patients through mental health assessments that send automated referrals to providers who take their patient’s insurance.
MHT: Your Ally in Adult & Pediatric Behavioral Health Screenings
Mental Health Technologies is a proponent for universal testing of mental health and substance abuse disorders in both adults and children. We believe that resources should be provided at the very first sign of potential mental health issues, leading to the most adequate care and best outcomes.
Understandably, primary care clinics are often on time crunches that do not allow for proper testing to be done. However, with our mental health assessments, these tests can be sent to patients before their appointment and all results are automatically uploaded into the clinic’s EHR with referrals being made on the physician's behalf.
To learn more about how MHT’s mental health screenings can benefit your patients, contact us today.
Resources:
https://onlinedegrees.bradley.edu/blog/how-mental-health-affects-physical-health/
https://www.nami.org/nami/media/nami-media/infographics/generalmhfacts.pdf