Dr. Tomy Thomas, M.D.: Mental Illness Through the Lens of Family Medicine

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For many mental health consumers, the first step towards seeking help is a visit to their family doctor. Moreover, research suggests that up to 2/3rds of visits to the family doctor are actually for mental health concerns – even if the original presenting complaint is for a physical symptom.  In this episode Dr. Tomy Thomas, MD sits down with OICBT psychologist Dr. Pete Kelly, C.Psych to discuss mental-illness through the lens of family medicine.  He discusses common presentations of mental illness seen by family doctors, outlines his thinking around prescribing practices, illustrates his vision of how to best form a collaborative treatment relationship with a client, provides tips for clients seeking mental health services from their primary care physician, discusses ways to enhance the relationship and communication between family physicians and mental health specialists including psychologists and psychiatrists and considers how the inevitable stresses and challenges of life must be integrated into the conceptualization of mental illness.  Dr. Tomy Thomas, MD is a family physician who practices in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.