Embracing depression : the role of the primary care physician

Abstract

Although perceptions of mental illness have changed for the better over the past years, for reasons unbeknownst, mental health issues remain a lingering taboo. This has led to many mental illness sufferers feeling side-lined, isolated, ashamed and worthless; fearing being labelled as a liability or “mental”. This can pull the final trigger for those teetering on the mental health ledge. After all, our brain is another part of our body - so why shouldn’t we talk freely about it, just like we would talk about a broken bone? This article aims to explore the role of the primary care physician in the management of such an important health aspect.