The Role of General Practitioners in Mental Health Care

Your General Practitioner is typically your first point of contact for all types of medical concerns and conditions, including mental health diagnosis and care. Mental health care – also referred to as therapy, counselling, psychotherapy or talking therapy – involves talking with a trained professional about your mental health concerns or anything else that may be troubling you. These concerns encompass a broad range of mental issues, from the loss of a loved one, depression, stress and anxiety to family or relationship issues, mental disorders, unhealthy habits, addictions or traumatic events.

If you or a loved one have concerns over your mental health or if you are suffering from any of the above ailments, the best way to begin the diagnosis, treatment and healing process is to consult your general practitioner. However, many people are, nervous, sceptical or even embarrassed to share their mental health concerns with their GP as they are usually involved with the health and wellbeing of their family, friends and local community.

For these reasons and more, the caring community of healthcare professionals at Intercare Medical and Dental Clinics would like to inform you that mental healthcare is more common than you may think. Your general practitioner is involved in these treatments daily and you have nothing to fear. They are bound by the hypocritic oath, meaning that you have absolute assurance that they will not share your condition with anyone.

How Your General Practitioner Can Assist You With Mental Health Care

The most important factor is that you have realised that you may have a problem and might need assistance. There are many ways that your general practitioner can assist you, but there are also many ways that you can help yourself and get the most out of your appointment. Firstly, be prepared for your initial consultation.

Making the Most of Your Initial Consultation

- Do not sell yourself short. If you have lots to explain to your GP, opt for a double consultation.

- Do not be afraid to ask a loved one you trust to accompany you if you need support.

- Write down questions you might forget to ask. Take a notepad and pen so you can document the GP's responses and refer back to them later.

- Make a note of how you feel. What are your signs and symptoms and what triggers these reactions? How long have you been feeling this way and what may have brought these on?

- Request an appointment with a GP you are familiar with or request your preference for a male or female doctor who speaks your first language.

At the consultation, you can also make the most of your time by considering the following:

- Be concise and honest. Your GP is familiar with hearing personal matters and is expertly trained to be supportive and professional. Remember, you are not their first patient suffering from these symptoms.

- Be open with your thoughts and feelings. Tell your doctor if you believe some treatments or pastimes may help you. With mental health concerns, sometimes you can be your own best friend.

- Ask them to write down anything you do not understand like medical terminology and diagnosis while you are making your notes. Ask your doctor to explain it to you in layman’s terms.

- Do not be afraid to ask questions. Once the consultation is over, you may have to care for yourself, so it is important that you completely understand what your doctor is explaining to you.

- Before leaving, ensure that you fully understand your doctor's thoughts and opinions, their advised initial treatment, and what they believe the next steps should be.

What Can I Expect From My General Practitioner?

If you have been frank about your signs and symptoms with your GP, they will be better informed to accurately diagnose your condition. However, they may still investigate further by asking additional questions about certain aspects of your life, for example:

- They may explore deeper into your physical and emotional symptoms.

- Any event, past, present or anticipated that might have initiated these symptoms and the way you feel.

• Enquire about any bad habits like drug or alcohol use.

- Enquire if there are any reasons why you might want to injure yourself or others.

- Investigate your and your family’s medical history regarding mental health conditions.

Based on what your answers are, they might progress to one or more of the following:

- Make a summary of your condition and possibly offer a preliminary diagnosis like one of the above-mentioned ailments, and they might prescribe initial treatment medication.

- They may inform you of community mental health teams that might assist you or suggest self-help programs you can follow while undergoing treatment.

- Refer you to additional services such as group counselling or if they feel that you need personalised therapy, they might refer you to a clinical psychologist.

- Advise you on measures to improve your condition like how to reduce stress, how to sleep better, and perhaps offer an exercise regime and dietary advice.

- Suggest follow-up consultations to keep abreast with how you are coping and how treatments are aiding you. These can be done online where you can talk freely from the comfort of your home.

Remember, you are not suffering alone, and most mental health conditions are treatable, and many are curable. The important factor is to find a general practitioner you can trust.

Where to Find a General Practitioner You Can Trust with Your Mental Health Care

 

Do not take your mental health lightly. It may be the difference between continuous suffering and having a peaceful, happy life with people you love and who love you in return. If you do not have a family doctor, finding the right one may be a challenge. However, there are many caring, trained professionals available throughout South Africa who can assist with primary care, diagnosis, treatment and referrals to in-house specialists. So please, reach out if you feel you need help.

Conveniently located in most cities and their adjacent suburbs, there are teams of compassionate doctors at Intercare Medical and Dental Clinics who have the expertise to aid you through your challenging times. We offer treatment for most medical conditions, including mental health, and our compassionate staff and crew are always here to assist.

Additionally, we also offer a Mental Health Subscription Plan. This plan is all-encompassing and offers consultations with registered mental health professionals, self-help educational toolkits, 24/7 chatbots to support your mental wellness and more. So, for experienced, caring, friendly assistance, contact us or make use of our convenient online consultation services. Because at Intercare, we care about your mental health.

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