"One Health": Integrating Mental and Physical Health

After our discussion in class this week, I started thinking more about what it would mean to merge physical health and mental health together.  After some careful thought, I came up with three key benefits to moving toward having “one health”.  I think integrating mental and physical health could lead to fewer stigmas associated with mental health, more patient-centered care, and improved health outcomes.

1. Fewer Stigmas Associated with Mental Health

In most areas of the world, individuals living with mental health issues are often stigmatized, discriminated against, and stereotyped.  Often individuals diagnosed with a mental health illness are perceived to be dangers (McDaid, 2008). In some cases, derogatory and offensive terms like crazy, loony, or psycho have been used to refer to individuals with mental health disorders (Putman, 2008).  In a 2002 study, twenty percent of the participants agreed with the statements “mental health is when you are mad” and “mental health is a cripple person” (Skellen, 2002). 

Educating people may be one way to address these stigmas (Skellen, 2002).  Unfortunately, there is currently not a centralized space to have conversations about mental health among those who have not been diagnosed.  Integrating physical and mental health could offer that space.  If mental health evaluations are a standard part of an annual wellness exam (which is interestingly referred to as a “physical” currently) mental health may seem less taboo and may be more normalized.  It could be seen as just another component of health.   

Additionally, Skellen (2002) found that the use of the term “mental” also has a negative connotation.  I think integrating mental health and physical health into one health will address this challenge.  It will emphasize that health has many important components and is more than physical. 

2.  More Patient-Centered Care

Another benefit to integrating mental and physical health is that it may allow for more patient-centered care.  Patient-centered care is described as care “that attends to (1) patients’ affective states (e.g., fear, vulnerability, hopelessness, uncertainty); (2) patient’ (vs. physicians’) values, needs and preferences, including psychosocial (vs. biomedical) content; and (3) patient empowerment in terms of having control over topical directions and decision making (Venetis, Robinson, Turkiewicz, & Allen, 2009, p 380).”  Integrating mental and physical health will allow physicians the opportunity to address the patient’s physical condition as well as their mental state.  For example, an individual who has been diagnosed with an advanced stage cancer may be experiencing a variety of physical symptoms as well as depression.  An integrated approach will allow physicians to collaborate and provide a more holistic strategy for treatment.

3. Improved Health Outcomes

Finally, integrating mental and physical health could potentially lead to better health outcomes.  If mental health is regularly assessed during annual visits, health care providers may be able to identify mental health threats and issues sooner.  In addition, if patients understand how mental health connects to overall health, they may more readily adhere to recommendations and treatment regimens.

Even though I feel like there are a variety of reasons to integrate the two forms of health into one health, I also understand that this would require several complex changes.  Perhaps, it is something that will eventually become a reality.

Works Cited

McDaid, D. (2008). Countering the stigmatisation and discrimination of people with mental health problems in Europe. Luxembourg: European Commission.

Putman, S. (2008). Mental illness: Diagnostic title or degogartory term? (Attitudes towards mental illness) Developing a learning resource for use within a clinical call

centre. Journal of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing , 15, 684-693.

Skellen, J. (2002). nailing; stigmas. Community Care , 32.

Venetis, M. K., Robinson, J. D., Turkiewicz, K. L., & Allen, M. (2009). An evidence base for patient-centered cancer care: A meta-analysis of studies of observed communication between cancer specialists and their patients. Patient Education and Counseling , 77 (3), 379-383.