Don’t wait for a health care 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.
- If you don not know where to start, bring up your mental health concerns with your PCP
- Prepare ahead of your visit with list of questions and your medications
- Consider bringing a friend or relative
- Be honest with your provider about all your symptoms and share any major stressors
- Ask questions
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 health care providers to find someone you are comfortable with and try several different treatments or a combination of treatments.
