Talking With Your Doctor About Mental Health

Don't wait for a healthcare provider to ask about your mental health. Start the conversation. Here are five tips to help prepare and guide you on talking to a healthcare provider about your mental health and getting the most out of your visit.

Talk With a Primary Care Provider

If you don't know where to start for help, you may want to consider bringing up your mental health concerns during your appointment with a primary care provider (PCP). A PCP is a healthcare practitioner people see for common medical problems, and this person is often a doctor. However, a PCP may be a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner.

Mental health is an integral part of health, and people with mental disorders can often be at risk for other medical conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes. In many primary care settings, you may be asked if you're feeling anxious or depressed, or if you have had thoughts of suicide. Even if your PCP doesn't ask you first, take this opportunity to talk to your PCP, who can help refer you to a mental health professional.

Prepare Ahead of Your Visit

Healthcare providers have a limited time for each appointment, so it may be helpful to think of your questions or concerns beforehand.

Consider Bringing a Friend or Relative

It can be difficult to absorb all the information your healthcare provider shares, especially if you are not feeling well. Sometimes it's helpful to bring a close friend or relative to your appointment. A companion can be there for support, help you take notes, and remember what you and the provider discussed. They also might be able to offer input to your provider about how they think you are doing. Some people like having a friend or family member there throughout an appointment, while others prefer to first meet alone with a healthcare provider and then have a trusted friend or relative join them when recommendations for treatments are discussed.

Be Honest

Your healthcare provider can help you get better only if you have open and honest communication. It is important to remember that discussions between you and a healthcare provider are private and cannot be shared with anyone without your expressed permission. Describe all your symptoms to your provider and be specific about when they started, how severe they are, and how often they occur. You should also share any major stressors or recent life changes that could be triggering or exacerbating your symptoms.

Symptoms of mental illnesses may include:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• Irritability
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
• Decreased energy or fatigue
• Moving or talking more slowly
• Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite or weight changes (or both)
• Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment

Ask Questions

If you have questions or concerns, ask the healthcare provider for more information about the mental health diagnosis or treatment. If a provider suggests a treatment option that you're not comfortable or familiar with, express your concerns and ask if there are other options. You may decide to try a combination of treatment approaches and want to consider getting another opinion from a different healthcare provider. It's important to remember that there is no "one-size-fits-all" treatment. To find one that works best for you, you may need to talk to a few other healthcare providers to find someone you are comfortable with and try several different treatments or a combination of treatments.