As a family nurse practitioner, I’ve spent years working with patients on everything from high blood pressure to diabetes. But over time, something became more and more obvious to me—so many of the physical issues we were treating had a mental or emotional thread woven through them. Stress, anxiety, depression, trauma—these things don’t just affect the mind. They show up in the body, in lab results, in sleep patterns, and even in relationships. That’s why I believe now more than ever that mental health needs to be a core part of primary care—not an afterthought or a separate specialty, but something we address up front and with the same level of attention as any other health concern.
The Unseen Weight People Carry
One of the most humbling parts of my job is seeing what people carry with them. I’ve had patients come in for stomach pain or migraines, only to break down in tears when I ask how they’re really doing. I’ve had folks dealing with chronic pain, who are also grieving the loss of a loved one or battling loneliness they don’t know how to talk about. And I’ve seen how untreated mental health issues can spiral into more serious medical conditions, leading to ER visits, hospital stays, or worse.
The truth is, a lot of people are hurting—and they don’t always feel like they have a safe space to talk about it. The stigma around mental health is still strong, especially in certain communities. People worry they’ll be judged, labeled, or dismissed. That’s why it’s so important for primary care providers like me to break down those walls and say clearly: your mental health matters here. We’re listening. We care. And we’re ready to help.
Primary Care as the First Line of Support
For many patients, their primary care office is the only place they see a healthcare provider on a regular basis. That puts us in a unique position—we can be the first to spot signs of anxiety, depression, trauma, or burnout. But only if we’re looking for them.
That’s one reason I’ve made mental health screening a standard part of our intake and follow-up visits. It’s not just about checking boxes—it’s about opening doors. When we ask those questions with compassion, when we pause to listen instead of rushing to the next item on the list, patients respond. Sometimes it’s a quiet “yes” to a screening question that opens up a deeper conversation. Other times, it’s the start of a healing process that’s been delayed for years.
And when I see that shift happen—when a patient realizes they’re not alone, and that support is available—it reminds me why this work matters so much.
Building a Care Model That Includes the Whole Person
At my practice, we’ve made mental health a key pillar of our care model. That means working closely with licensed therapists, making referrals easier, and creating a space where physical and emotional health are treated as two sides of the same coin. It also means encouraging patients to talk openly about how they’re doing, without fear or shame.
We’ve seen real results from this approach. Patients with anxiety who were also struggling with high blood pressure started to see improvements in both areas. Others who were constantly fatigued or in pain finally got some relief when they began therapy or started medication for depression. And the more we’ve normalized these conversations, the more patients have felt empowered to ask for help.
It’s not a quick fix, and it’s not always easy. But it’s worth it. Because when we treat the whole person—not just the symptoms—we give people a chance at real, lasting health.
Changing the Culture of Care
If we’re going to make mental health a true part of primary care, we have to start with culture. That means creating a clinic environment where patients feel safe, respected, and heard. It means training staff to recognize signs of emotional distress and respond with empathy. And it means leading by example—talking about mental health not as a weakness or side issue, but as a vital part of wellness.
As healthcare providers, we also need to take care of our own mental health. This work can be heavy. The stories we hear, the pressure we carry, and the long hours can take a toll. I’ve learned over the years that you can’t pour from an empty cup. I’ve made it a point to stay grounded—whether it’s spending time with my wife and daughter, getting out on the golf course, or just being honest when I need support myself. Taking care of ourselves isn’t selfish—it’s necessary if we want to keep showing up for others.
A Better Future, One Conversation at a Time
Bringing mental health into primary care isn’t about changing everything overnight. It’s about small, consistent actions that move us forward—a conversation, a referral, a safe space to share. It’s about meeting people where they are and letting them know that their pain matters, their healing matters, and they don’t have to face it alone.
I’ve seen what happens when we treat mental health like a priority instead of a problem. I’ve seen lives improve, relationships strengthen, and people find hope again. That’s the kind of care I believe in. That’s the kind of care I’ll keep fighting for.
And if we keep showing up—day after day, patient after patient—with empathy, openness, and courage, I believe we can create a system where no one has to suffer in silence. That’s not just good medicine. That’s the heart of it all.