Is the Mental Health Consultant in Primary Care Right for Your Patient? Yes!

By U.S. Public Health Service Capt. Anne C. Dobmeyer, Ph.D., ABPP
Feb. 3, 2020

Doctor reviews patient summaryU.S. Army photo

Service members seek care from their primary care manager for a wide range of concerns and conditions. Some problems, such as a sore throat or skin rash, may be readily resolved by the patient and PCM. Many patients, however, seek care for more complex conditions, such as chronic pain, family stressors, tobacco use, or being overweight. When a condition is affected by behaviors, emotions, thoughts, or social factors, health care should address these psychosocial factors in addition to physical factors.

Fortunately, the Military Health System has a system in place to provide comprehensive, whole-person care within primary care clinics. PCMs can include mental health consultants in the care of patients with a wide range of conditions and concerns. MHCs are psychologists or social workers who are trained to work on interprofessional primary care teams to help address behaviors, thoughts, emotions, and social/environmental factors that affect health and well-being.

Who might benefit from seeing a MHC in primary care? MHCs assist patients who would like to make changes to better manage their health, whether that is losing weight, eating healthier, exercising more, or cutting back on alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine. Others benefit from meeting with a MHC to help adjust to life changes, such as becoming a new parent, starting a new position, or moving to a new location.

MHCs help patients better adhere to their PCM's treatment plans, such as taking medications as prescribed or making specific dietary changes. Patients experiencing mental health conditions or symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, irritability, or anger may benefit from evidence-based intervention from the MHC. Even individuals with chronic medical conditions, such as chronic pain, hypertension, or diabetes, can work with MHCs to improve symptoms, functioning, and quality of life. If symptoms or functioning don't improve, the MHC can link the patient with a higher level of care in a specialty mental health clinic.

Capt. Dobmeyer is a U.S. Public Health Service psychologist in the Primary Care Behavioral Health branch at the Psychological Health Center of Excellence. She specializes in clinical health psychology and the integration of behavioral health services into primary care clinics within the Department of Defense.