In this episode of Inside Family Medicine, Lauren Brown-Berchtold, MD, FAAFP, a passionate advocate for mental health care and physician well-being, talks about her journey from tragedy to advocacy. It is an important conversation during May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month. The episode highlights the crucial role family physicians play in providing mental health care and reducing the stigma of seeking mental health help.
Dr. Brown-Berchtold, the program director for the San Joaquin General Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, shares her personal journey into family medicine, influenced by experiences in Indonesia and a tragic family loss that underscored the importance of mental health.
She emphasizes that family physicians are well-positioned to recognize and treat mental health conditions and discusses how behavioral health integration can make mental health care more accessible. Dr. Brown-Berchtold also highlights the stigma within the medical community regarding mental health and considers solutions to better support physician wellness.
The episode closes with Dr. Brown-Berchtold discussing strategies to facilitate open conversations about mental health between physicians and patients, and the significance of self-care and professional support for physicians.
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