20 Sep 2023
With a growing burden of mental health globally, mental health is becoming an ever more significant element of a UK General Practitioner’s workload. How do GPs and patients manage these conversations? In this blog, Iris van der Scheer addresses the need for both groups to be better supported in these discussions – and how her PhD project aims to help.
Mental health and primary care settings
“No health without mental health” was a proposition made by the World Health Organization (WHO) and has gone on to influence mental health strategies around the world, for people of all ages. It is now well acknowledged that mental health concerns contribute to the burden of disease worldwide – not only on their own, but in relation to other medical illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic pain, and hypertension.
Many people who are experiencing common mental health concerns (e.g. depression, anxiety, stress and low mood) visit their GP first. Evidence suggests that 90% of common mental health concerns are managed in primary care. However evidence suggests that it is not always easy for patients to talk about their mental health problems. This is a result of continuing stigma around the topic of mental health and patients might not feel comfortable to raise these type of concerns and do not know how GPs might respond.
My project
There has been a lot of important research around mental health in primary care but so far very few studies have explored the interactions between patients and GPs with a detailed, qualitative lens. That is where my project comes in. I am interested in the ‘how’ around mental health discussions and aim to understand how people are currently raising and/or discussing common mental health concerns with their GP. I am a linguist by background and am using a qualitative method called ‘Conversation Analysis’ which studies the patterns in the interactions on a case-by-case vasus
This research topic is also one that is close to my heart. Many of my friends, family members and I have struggled or are struggling with mental health conditions. This strengthens the motivation and passion with which I conduct my research and to make it as impactful as it can be (potentially post PhD). I want everyone to be able to access primary care for mental health and feel comfortable enough to raise their issues and receive the help that they need.
We need your help!
It is extremely important to conduct this research together with the people that will (hopefully) benefit from the outcomes and ensure their voices are heard. This is why I am calling for volunteers to participate in my co-creation events this October and November. I would like to speak to People with Lived Experience of common mental health and GPs to understand how they experience discussions around mental health together. I will use these conversations to guide my suggested improvements for easier discussions in the future. Your help will allow me to create practical and understandable tips for GPs and patients.
Please see the posters for more information (one for GPs and one for patients 18+). If you are interested in participating, don’t hesitate to email iris.vanderscheer.20@ucl.ac.uk or call Iris on +44737 7934 046.
