A family’s patterns in how they treat people and each other have more of an influence on today’s healthcare than ever before. As more people become aware of the concept of generational trauma, mental health issues, and other individual psychological problems, family physicians have an even more prominent role in improving mental health across the United States. In fact, it’s because of this growing awareness that family medicine doctors are helping families everywhere reach attainable therapeutic goals and finding solutions that make homes more viable and safe for everyone involved. 

How Family Medicine is Improving Mental Health Across America 

Many people all over are facing social isolation, economic instability, and health uncertainty. As the Covid-19 pandemic has negatively affected more than 51% of people’s mental health, this psychological distress has also heavily contributed to the daily life of families everywhere. While the characteristics of those problems are specific to each patient, these issues reflect how each person handles relational, psychological, and social functions. Families, in particular, however, are the heart of society. In recent years, family medicine doctors have begun emphasizing the roles that mental disorders can have in their lives and have begun providing resources for treatment. 

Primary care providers are starting to become trained in recognizing mental health symptoms and are working to assure that mental healthcare can be accessed through primary care on an equal basis to all patients. This task is enormously challenging, and while many mental health professionals can provide those same services, there is a significant maldistribution and shortage of psychiatrists providing family mental healthcare services. Because of this shortage, more family medicine physicians have begun taking the role. It’s essential that they do so because as more primary physicians provide mental health services, they’re further expanding the resources people can have to treat their conditions and care for their families. 

So, how are the current family medicine doctors improving patients’ lives throughout the US? Here are some reasons we can cite: 

• They’re In The Best Position To Do So: Many family physicians are in the best position to address the mental health of their patients, as they can prescribe mental health medications, brief psychotherapy sessions, and pharmacotherapy to those families to keep track of their physical and mental health. 
• Their Services Help Their Patient’s Physical Health: As family medicine doctors treat their patient’s mental health, their patient’s physical health will also improve. Most often, mental health problems such as depression can contribute to developing conditions such as cardiac disease, hypertension, sleep problems, and physical inactivity. By working to treat them, many family practices have improved the outlook for families with health problems. 
• These Services Help Save The Healthcare System Money: Mental illness was projected to account for at least $200 billion in spending throughout 2020, and depression is ranked as the number one factor in healthcare spending. By treating mental health problems at a primary office, those mental health costs for families can help dramatically decrease the costs over time and give better access to families in the US. 

Visit Prestige Mental Health for Family Therapy Services 

If your family medicine physician has recommended you to see a mental health professional, then visit Prestige Mental Health in Las Vegas, NV. At our practice, Dr. April Sullivan provides a gentle listening ear and a deep understanding of mental health and how it impacts families. To learn more, schedule an appointment with Prestige Mental Health by calling (702) 945-2864.