How — and why — to tell your doctor you’re feeling depressed

Regularly talking to your provider about your mental health is the best way to get ahead of any problems and get treatment if you need it. | Paige Vickers/Vox; Getty Images We’re making this story accessible to all readers as a public service.

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I don’t know about you, but whenever I go to see my primary care doctor, my mental health isn’t usually at the top of my list of things to talk about.

But it should be.

In fact, experts say that all of us could benefit from more candid conversations with our doctors about our mental health. (This story discusses mental health issues and suicide.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.

You are not alone.

You can call the national 988 hotline for support.) For years, the United States has been trying to figure out “parity” for mental health care — to have it treated and paid for like any other medical need, not something that is carved out and separate.

A big part of that has been pushing primary care doctors and OB/GYNs to do more screenings, to make your mental state a part of your well-being that you discuss with your doctor the same as your blood pressure or any physical ailment.

But that is easier said than done.

A lot of people may not even realize that their depression or anxiety or stress is something they should talk about with their primary care doctor.

Others might fear being judged, and for good reason — national policymakers warn there continues to be a stigma toward mental health conditions among doctors.

About one in three Americans say they have never been asked about their mental health by a doctor, which is unsettling considering that the nation has been going through a collective mental health crisis for several years.

Men are significantly less likely to be asked about their mental health than women — perhaps a reflection of a culture that expects men to “tough it out” when it comes to their feelings.