Massachusetts primary care physicians ask patients about their mental states half of the time, based on a Massachusetts Health Quality Partners survey, according to The Boston Globe.
The survey asked 44,000 adults patients if they had spoken with their primary care physicians about mental health issues in the past year.
Here are five insights:
1. The physicians scored a 56 out of 100 points in 2015, compared to a score of 53 in 2014.
2. Some physicians find speaking about patients' mental health uncomfortable, as they often don't have the resources to treat a condition like depression.
3. The Chelsea HealthCare Center, affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital, gives patients an emotional health questionnaire. If scores are concerning, physicians discuss stress management skills, medication options or psychiatrist referrals with the patient.
4. Some advocates are calling for annual depression and substance abuse screenings. Mental health often impacts physical health; screening for mental health issues may result in better and cheaper healthcare for patients.
5. A federal government advisory group suggested routine healthcare should include depression screening.