Amplifying employee behavioral health through primary care

In the U.S. healthcare system, mental health and physical health are often viewed and treated separately. Typically, people see their primary care physician (PCP) for their physical needs and a behavioral health specialist for mental health.

The problem with that approach is that it ignores the critical connection between physical and mental health. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, millions of people live with both physical and mental health issues. People with chronic physical conditions – like diabetes or heart disease – are at a higher risk for depression, just as people with depression face a higher risk of developing physical issues, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.