Study Says That Medical Professionals Are More Engaged In Treating Physical Health Rather Than The Mental Health

Researchers found out that physicians overlook to follow up their patients with mental health conditions such as depression. They are rather more involved in treating patients who are diagnosed with the chronic physical condition such as diabetes, heart diseases and other diseases.

Huffington Post reports that the study involved one thousand US primary care facilities, surveyed between 2006 and 2013. The researchers analyzed the doctor's approaches on how they treat patients with depression likened to patients with chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes and congestive heart failure.

The outcome showed that patients with depression were not treated as the same level as that of patients with chronic illnesses. Those with physical illnesses were treated with right decorum. The doctors informed their patients about their diseases and counsel them the particular treatments they must have.

The health experts advise that medical professionals must do depression screening in the patient's regular physical exam. If diagnosed with depression, doctors can make follow-up care or recommend them to mental health care specialists.

"Depression is a recurring illness," said Saga Parikh, the University of Michigan Comprehension Depression Center's associate director. "When it's there, it's often present for months. It needs a lot of active management and multiple treatments."

"Most people recover from depression, but they're vulnerable to a second depression or a third depression," Parik continued. "That needs to be managed through lifestyle habits in order to prevent a relapse."

Meanwhile, Brooks Behavioral Health Center reports that mental health is also neglected in the workplace. Most companies fall short of giving attention to mental health as that of the physical health. On the other hand, there are some companies now that offer opportunities to enhance the mental condition of their employees such as providing wellness counseling, time to meditate, yoga and fitness center.