by Dr. Jennifer Thomas, family medicine and addiction medicine physician with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers
“Doc, something is wrong. I’m just not feeling myself. I’m tired all the time, but at night I can’t sleep. My low back pain seems to be getting worse and I don’t feel like doing the stuff I love, like my bowling league and going fishing. I’m taking the blood pressure and cholesterol pills you give me, but I just don’t feel like myself.” This was how a recent patient, let’s call him Bill, presented to my primary care office. I’ve known Bill for years and take care of several of his family members.
I asked Bill a little more about his daily life. “Are you having any new stressors in your life?” Bill replied, “Well, I have been worrying a lot about money since I’ll be retiring soon. And I guess I am still a little sad about my mom passing away over the summer.” Over the course of his visit, Bill and I had a great talk where we discussed another important aspect of his health and wellness: his mental health.
Bill’s story is not uncommon. Up to 30% of primary care office visits are for mental health concerns. And sometimes mental health conditions, such as depression, are accompanied by physical symptoms, such as fatigue and poor sleep.
So where should someone start when they have a health concern? That’s a great question and an important one. Start with your trusted primary care provider. Whether you have a sore throat, knee pain, or feeling sad or anxious, your primary care office is the perfect place to start. Together, you and your provider can figure out what is going on, taking into account both your physical and mental health.
The primary care practices at Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers are uniquely equipped with additional teammates to help address your mental health concerns. This approach is called Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH.) IBH is delivered right in your primary care office, where you already receive your medical care from a trusted, friendly team of healthcare professionals.
Mental health IS health, and at Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers we want our patients to know that they can bring all of their concerns, both physical and mental, to their trusted primary care provider. We are ready, we have a great team assembled, and we’re excited to help you on your journey to health and wellness.
Dr. Jennifer Thomas, MD, FASAM, is a family medicine and addiction medicine physician with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers. To learn more about Morris Hospital’s Integrated Behavioral Health program, visit us at https://www.morrishospital.org/services/integrated-care-program/.
