Talking Mental Health With Your Primary Care Doctor

Key points

Each year Americans make an estimated 500 million visits to primary care doctors.

Less than half of the 43 million adults identified with a mental illness receive treatment.

The collaborative care model of integrating behavioral health services into primary care is gaining momentum.

Collaborative care can increase access to support, reduce stigma and promote long-term wellness.

Each year, Americans make an estimated 500 million visits to primary care doctors. In fact, the CDC found just over 85% of Americans had a visit with a doctor or health professional in the past year. Whether for annual checkups, illnesses, ailments, or other physical concerns, these visits are relatively routine and somewhat expected.

Contrast that with the American Medical Association’s finding