Making Mental Healthcare Easier to Navigate
October is Health Literacy Month. This emphasis seeks to focus on the need to improve how health information is communicated by both physicians and patients.
We all know that the health care system is overloaded. There aren’t enough doctors to go around, and even those who have primary care physicians often have a hard time getting appointments. The alternative is multi-hour waits in emergency rooms and urgent care centres, while many smaller communities are facing rotating emergency room closures. Even people with life-threatening illnesses or surgery are being waitlisted for treatment.
The already existing tendency to put off seeking help for mental health issues is made much worse by this situation. Many people also find going to the doctor to talk about mental health particularly challenging. There is still unnecessary stigma attached to this issue, making it especially difficult to ask for needed assistance.
But mental health is not about being looked at as “crazy”. It covers everything from simple depression and anxiety to addiction issues and personality disorders. The biggest issue is improving communication between doctor and patient.
Medical jargon, short, one-problem appointments and anxiety around talking to the doctor are all factors that work against communication when the patient is worried, tired or in pain. It makes getting the help needed more difficult. What can we do to help ourselves?
- Provincial health registries have been set up to help find primary care physicians for people. Yes, there is a wait list, but it may not take as long as you think. Make sure to register for access when a spot does come up. In the meantime, pharmacists can set people up with phone appointments with doctors for essential medication renewals.
- Urgent Care or Walk-in Clinics In a pinch, these clinics can do same-day appointments or telephone help within a day or two. It is worth persevering through dial- in systems to get the answers you need. It’s not ideal, but there is a place for this in the continuum of care. Make sure you write down a list of concerns and symptoms to streamline the conversation and save time to get to what you need help with the most. Ask questions. What is my main health concern? What should I do next? Why is this important?
- Navigate the System by Staying Healthy. Another way to cope with uncertain access to care is to reduce reliance on crisis care. Be proactive about your own health. We all know that we can manage our own diet, exercise and stress prevention approaches to lessen the severity of some of the problems we go to doctors for. Pharmacists are also a good source of wellness information to share with the public. Implementing these tactics before you get sick can help reduce reliance on the healthcare system.
- Look Beyond the Family Physician. Utilize public health screening programs like mammograms, colon screenings, Pap tests, etc., for early detection and prevention. You can find these resources and others through “811” call centers. Take notes, ask for instructions or a referral to someone who can help get the answers you need.
Taking back some of the control over your well-being in ways that you can will help lessen the frustration and anger that drive mental health issues and access to care.
Resources:
BC Health Connect Registry: healthlinkbc.ca or call “811”
AB Find a Doctor: albertafindaprovider.ca or primarycarealberta.ca or call “811