A good mental health is an integral part of an individual’s overall health and quality of life, yet often remains unspoken about and untreated due to the stigma attached and lack of awareness of mental health issues. Incorporating mental health screening in primary care settings ensures early diagnosis and treatment, leading to faster recovery and reduced mental health care burdens.

Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders in Primary Care Settings

Rate of Occurrence of Mental Health Issues in a Primary Care: Mental health disorders like depression, personality disorders, anxiety, and substance use disorders are widely prevalent in primary health care. Studies show that around 25-30% of patients in a primary health care setup are diagnosed with one or more mental disorders.

Underreporting of Mental Health Disorders in a Hospital: Many individuals report physical difficulties that may have mental health disturbances as an underlying cause, often leading to missed diagnoses. For example, nausea and vomiting may indicate anxiety disorder or depression, but these may go unnoticed without proper screening.

Types of Mental Health Screening Tools Used in a Primary Health Care Centre

The most common types of screening tools used in a primary care hospital are as follows:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7): This scale is used for screening generalized anxiety disorder. It helps primary health care providers detect early onset of anxiety and monitor its progress.
• Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9): Commonly used in mental health clinics, this questionnaire helps detect depression in patients. It is highly effective in identifying various levels of depression symptoms.
• Other Screening Tools: Questionnaires such as the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) for bipolar disorder and the CAGE questionnaire for substance addiction are also used in identifying specific conditions.

Benefits of Mental Health Screening Tools for Disorders in a Mental Hospital

The common benefits of mental health screening for disorders at a psychiatric hospital include:

• Helps to Detect Disorders at an Early Stage: Mental health screening tools help detect disorders early, allowing for timely treatment and intervention, reducing the chance of worsening the condition.
• Provides Better Treatment Outcome: These tools improve treatment outcomes for mental disorders, reducing the risk of comorbid conditions and higher levels of dysfunction.
• Helps Reduce Physical and Mental Health Burdens: Mental health disorders like depression and anxiety can lead to physical health issues. Screening tools address both mental and physical health, improving overall quality of life.

Addressing Mental Health Stigma in Primary Care Hospitals

Normalizing Mental Health Issues: Regular screening helps reduce the stigma attached to mental illness and seeking treatment, encouraging patients to discuss their concerns openly.

Building Trust Among Individuals: Patients are more likely to trust primary care hospitals compared to psychiatric clinics, which makes them more open to treatment and follow-up procedures.

Challenges in Implementing Mental Health Screening in Primary Care Hospitals

Although primary care centres are moving toward mental health screening, some challenges make the process difficult:

• Time Constraints: Primary care providers often face time shortages during patient visits. Implementing mental health screening can lengthen consultations, though tools like GAD-7 and PHQ-9 are quick and can be administered by support staff.
• Lack of Training for Staff: Some primary care providers may lack training in using mental health screening tools. With proper training, however, providers can overcome this challenge and conduct screenings independently.
• Referral Systems: Ensuring seamless referrals between primary care and mental health professionals can be challenging. Strengthening collaborative care models and improving communication can resolve this issue.

Recommendations for Successful Implementation of Treatment at a Primary Hospital

The following recommendations can help ensure the successful implementation of mental health treatment at primary care centers:

• Use of Standardized Screening Tools: Implementing easy-to-use, validated screening tools that can be quickly administered and scored in mental health clinics can provide better treatment outcomes.
• Routine Mental Health Screening: Mental health screening should be a routine part of primary health checkups, ensuring that no patient is undiagnosed or mistreated.
• Training for Mental Health Staff: Training health care staff to identify and manage mental health conditions is vital for improving treatment outcomes.
• Collaborative Networks: Building networks of mental health professionals can ensure that primary care centers have access to necessary support during treatment.

Athena Behavioural Health as the Best Mental Health Treatment Centre

Athena Behavioural Health in Delhi, Gurgaon, India, recognizes that effective mental health care starts with early diagnosis and treatment. Many mental health clinics now use screening tools to integrate comprehensive assessments into routine checkups. This approach ensures that mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, and others are properly identified. By reducing stigma and improving access to care, Athena Behavioral Health provides support to primary care providers, offering patient-centered, individualized care that contributes to overall well-being. To contact Athena, dial +91 92890 86193 or email customercare@athenabhs.com.

Conclusion

Mental health screening in primary care settings is crucial for early detection and management of mental health conditions. By integrating mental health assessments into routine care, primary care providers can offer individualized treatment, improving both mental and physical health. This not only reduces the social burden of untreated mental disorders but also enhances treatment efficiency and outcomes. Overcoming challenges like time constraints and referral systems will lead to better-integrated healthcare, benefiting patients, providers, and society as a whole.