Most U.S. Adults Want to Be Asked About Mental Health at Primary Care Visits
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2024 -- Seven in 10 U.S. adults would prefer to be asked about both their physical and mental health during medical appointments with primary care providers (PCPs), according to the results of a survey released by West Health and Gallup.
The West Health-Gallup Survey on Mental Health was conducted via web and mail from Oct. 1 to 13, 2024, with 2,389 respondents and representing all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
Majorities among both men (65 percent) and women (76 percent) reported being eager to discuss both their mental and physical health with their PCPs. Most U.S. adults reported being either "very comfortable" (41 percent) or "somewhat comfortable" (33 percent) discussing mental health with a PCP. If a mental health condition is diagnosed, more than half of adults (57 percent) say it is very important for the doctor to either address it themselves or provide a referral. The survey also revealed that more than half of U.S. adults (51 percent) think it is very important for doctors to screen patients for anxiety and depression.
"We can do a better job making the diagnosis and treatment of a mental health condition more accessible, affordable, and integrated, and the solution may lie in primary care settings, where patients are most likely to interact with a health professional and less likely to feel stigmatized," Tim Lash, president of the West Health Policy Center, said in a statement.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted December 2024
Read this next
One in 10 Mental Health-Related ED Visits Among Youths Involve Boarding
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 20, 2025 -- Boarding is a considerable issue for Medicaid-enrolled youths seeking mental health care in emergency departments (EDs), according to a research letter...
College Students With Autism Report Higher Rates of Anxiety, Depression
TUESDAY, Aug. 19, 2025 -- College students with autism face higher rates of anxiety and depression than students without autism, according to a study recently published online in...
ADHD Drug Treatment Linked to Reduced Rate of Adverse Outcomes
THURSDAY, Aug. 14, 2025 -- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug treatment is associated with reduced rates of adverse outcome events, including suicidality...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.