Mental health

If you feel your quality of life isn’t where you’d like it to be on a regular basis, then it may be time to
talk with someone. Maybe you’ve been feeling down and unable to sleep, or stressed to the point where
you can’t focus at work or school without feeling anxious or on edge. It’s normal to go through ups and
downs in life, but if you feel like you haven’t been feeling like yourself for quite a while, it’s a good time
to connect with a provider. You don’t have to wait until things are terrible to get care — your primary
care provider can partner with you to prevent things from getting to that point.

It depends. Primary care providers are well-trained and experienced in helping with most common
mental health concerns. Still, there are times when a primary care provider might recommend working
with a mental health specialist like a therapist or psychiatrist. For instance, talk therapy
(psychotherapy) can be helpful on its own or in combination with medication for a variety of mental
health conditions. Your provider might recommend seeing a psychiatrist (a medical provider trained in
diagnosing and treating mental health conditions) if it’s unclear what diagnosis best matches your
symptoms, if you have multiple mental health conditions that make treatment more complex, or if the
usual approach to treatment isn’t helping as much as expected. If you do need or want more
specialized mental health care, we have a referral network of therapists and psychiatrists who we
know and trust.

Mental and physical health are deeply connected. Mental health problems and any stress they
might cause can affect your physical well-being. You might notice symptoms like muscle aches,
problems with digestion, skin and hair changes, changes in your sex drive (libido), or unusual
tiredness or fatigue. Taking care of your mental health condition should help to reduce or prevent
these physical symptoms.

At the same time, your physical well-being can have a major impact on your mental health. Living with a chronic (long-term) condition that affects your physical health can be stressful or leave you feeling isolated from others. As a result, people with chronic conditions are at higher risk for developing mental health problems like depression. Your provider can help with both the physical and mental health aspects of your care in a challenging situation like this. They can work with you to make sure that your chronic condition is as well-controlled as possible, suggest lifestyle changes and resources that can make it easier to cope, and review treatment options for your mental health symptoms as needed.

Absolutely. While mental health conditions can affect anyone, we know that people who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community are at greater risk for mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Challenges like stigma, discrimination, and bias likely play a role in this increased risk. One Medical’s providers understand the unique health concerns and barriers that members of the LGBTQIA+ community may face, including poor healthcare experiences in the past. Our providers are committed to providing culturally competent, affirmative care at every visit and creating safe, judgment-free spaces for all.

A provider will determine if you need prescription medication to treat your conditions and/or symptoms. If your care plan includes a prescription, you'll be asked to select a pharmacy. You can send it to your preferred pharmacy or select Amazon Pharmacy to get your medications delivered right to your door.