Wellstar Behavioral Health

Whether it’s your first time on campus or you’re a seasoned college student, the start of a new school semester can be exciting, stressful and a little scary all at the same time.

Between finding classes on campus and fitting in with new friends, you may be feeling anxious about the upcoming semester. Keep in mind, new-school-year nerves are normal and there are resources to help you—including a check-up with your Wellstar primary care physician as well as on-campus counselors.

“Anxiety often goes unrecognized and undiagnosed,” said Wellstar Physician Dr. Andrew Doyle. “It’s not always recognized or talked about because people think it’s a normal part of life. But when anxiety interferes with completing homework, socializing or working at your job, it’s not necessarily normal. It’s helpful to have someone check it out.”

Signs of anxiety can also include difficulty sleeping, abdominal pain, headaches, significant changes in appetite or an explosive temper.

“There are effective treatments that make a difference for students including lifestyle changes, medication and therapy,” Dr. Doyle said.

Getting enough sleep, exercise and healthy food are highly important, and Dr. Doyle also recommends planning downtime from social media and life responsibilities.

“Therapy and role-playing can help you recognize your stressors and think through how to handle them ahead of time so you can face those situations,” he said. “For example, on exam day, start with positive self-talk. You can say, ‘I’m feeling nervous. I have a headache and an upset stomach. I know that’s because I’m anxious. I’ve taken many tests before and I can do this so I don’t need to worry about it.’ Breathing exercises before the test can help you stay calm. You can also plan ahead of the test to do something enjoyable afterward and to focus on that instead of the stressor.”

To help you start the semester off feeling mentally strong and physically healthy, here are some wellness tips to get you off to your best school year yet.

Study guide to stay healthy

From medical appointments to personal safety, follow our tips to prepare for college and prioritize your health.

• Take control of your health. Book your annual physical with your primary care physician at the start of the semester.
• Make mental health a priority. Get sufficient sleep, exercise and nutrition. Bring up any questions or concerns about stress, anxiety and depression with your primary care clinician.
• Recognize anxiety and manage it. When you recognize a situation that triggers anxiety, start positive self-talk and deep breathing. 
• Schedule in self-care. College can be intense. Make time for yourself to do things you enjoy for your mental and physical well-being.
• Stay organized. Use a planner or calendar to schedule classes, exams and study time to keep yourself on track.
• Set roommate rules. If you’re living with roommates, create clear rules for your space like noise levels, chores and when other friends are allowed over.
• Know your surroundings. Get familiar with the campus layout and where the security station or emergency phones are located.
• Use the buddy system. Stay alert on campus and walk with a friend when possible, especially at night.
• Protect yourself at parties. Never leave drinks unattended, whether you’re hanging out at a bar, party or other gathering with friends.

Get ready for campus life

Heading to college can be a big transition, and you may feel anxiety about the upcoming changes, especially during a pandemic. But don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need help getting ready or adjusting.

Talking to your Wellstar is a great place to start, whether your concerns are about physical, emotional or mental health. Our health partners are here to support you and can connect you with specialists to keep you feeling well.

Book your annual physical today and be sure to bring up any questions or concerns you have with your doctor.

Your body supports you in everything you do, from everyday activities like grocery shopping to milestones and memories with friends and family. 

But while you may make sure you eat healthy, get your exercise and see your doctor to keep up with your physical health, it’s important to check in on your mental health, too. 

Wellstar offers a full range of behavioral health services close to home in convenient locations, so you can feel your best both physically and mentally.

Meeting you where you are

If you’re dealing with feelings of anxiety and depression, you may turn to your primary care physician or another healthcare provider for help. Wellstar is removing barriers to behavioral healthcare by integrating those services into many of our locations. 

On-site behavioral health providers work at many of our primary care and specialty clinics, making it a little easier to take that first step in improving your mental health. Wellstar also provides access to on-site and virtual behavioral health specialists in hospital emergency departments and on the medical floors.

“We know that patients are already struggling with stigma, and sometimes it takes a lot for a patient to come into care with a behavioral health professional, and we wanted to remove that stigma,” said Dr. Ryan Breshears, chief behavioral health officer at Wellstar.

About 1 in 3 patients with a physical health condition also could benefit from some form of mental health support, Dr. Breshears said. Wellstar providers work together across specialties to ensure each patient receives “whole person care”—addressing both their mental and physical well-being.

“When you address the mental health components that an individual is dealing with, you’re going to improve the physical outcomes,” Dr. Breshears said. “In the same way, if you address the physical health outcomes, you’re probably going to provide care that improves the mental health outcomes as well.”

Wellstar Psychologist Dr. Shawn Coyne works with cardiac patients to provide that whole person care to patients like John Petrick and his daughter Janin as they adjust to cardiac diagnoses. 

Cardiac health and behavioral health are closely tied, Dr. Coyne said—if someone is depressed, they are twice as likely to have a cardiac health issue or twice as likely to experience a second cardiac event. Heart patients are also three times as likely to be depressed as the general population.

In addition to cardiovascular behavioral medicine, Wellstar also offers several other specialized programs to assist patients with the mental and emotional challenges of a medical condition: 

• Metabolic behavioral medicine, for patients with metabolic conditions or who have received bariatric surgery
• Psycho-gastroenterology to provide support to gastrointestinal patients
• Psychosocial oncology to help patients adjust to cancer treatment
• Somatic symptom disorders for people experiencing unexplained physical symptoms that may be caused or impacted by stress

With our PeopleCare approach, Wellstar providers tailor care to each patient, taking the time to get to know their needs and create a customized care plan.

“You as the patient are part of the treatment team,” Dr. Coyne said. “You are involved, you can participate, you give feedback, you engage and we get a better end product when we work as a strong team.”

To learn more about outpatient behavioral health services, call (770) 644-1570.

Compassionate inpatient care

If you or a loved one requires immediate care for a behavioral health condition, our inpatient behavioral health units provide 24-hour care for adults ages 18 and older.

Inpatient behavioral health services include round-the-clock monitoring, medication management, individual and group therapy, and educational resources for both the patient and their family.

If you have questions, you can reach our Behavioral Health Assessment & Resource Center anytime at (470) 732-3789. However, in the case of an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Learn more about behavioral health services at Wellstar.

When the weather starts to warm up, many people start getting ready for the spring season. Along with cleaning and decluttering your home, you should also spruce up the space you live in every day—your body.

When you prioritize your well-being and do the proper up-keep for your health, it may help you stay ahead of potential medical issues.

To feel your best this spring and beyond, we’re sharing our top tips to keep you healthy.

Check for a clean bill of health

Setting our clocks forward can also be your reminder to set up a visit with your primary care provider.

“People should definitely add a wellness exam to their spring-cleaning checklist, regardless of age. Routine preventative care every year is very important,” said Wellstar Primary Care Physician Dr. Nayab Dhanani.

During a wellness exam, your provider will check your Foundational 4 numbers—body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

From there, your provider can help create a screening plan to help keep you ahead of chronic conditions or serious diseases. Recommended screenings may vary depending on your family history, gender and age, as well as your provider's recommendations.

“The importance of screenings is really to be proactive instead of reactive,” said Wellstar Primary Care Physician Dr. Facia Dew. “It’s better to know a person’s risk factors so we can screen accordingly. Our goal is to meet their unique medical needs and help them live a healthy life.”

Be sure to bring up any other medical concerns, health questions or wellness goals at the appointment. Wellstar providers are partners in your care, committed to keeping you feeling your best physically, mentally and emotionally.

Stay ahead of health concerns

It can be easy to put your own health on the backburner as life gets busy. This spring, make a commitment to yourself to get the essential screenings you need.

For women, screenings like pelvic exams, Pap smears and mammograms can help catch cancer, sexually transmitted diseases and other issues. These important physical and gynecological health exams can help you stay ahead of potential medical concerns, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer and ovarian cancer.

Along with a routine physical to stay in top shape, men can benefit from a prostate-specific antigen test. Having this simple blood test done can help catch prostate cancer in its early stages, often when it is more treatable. Men who are 50 or older should start getting screened for prostate cancer. Those at higher risk—including Black men and those who have had a close relative diagnosed with prostate cancer—may start screenings even sooner.

Talking about colon health can feel a little uncomfortable, but getting screened could save your life. Starting at age 45, everyone should get a colonoscopy. Those with a higher risk or family history of colorectal cancer may need to start screening even sooner. Learn more about the importance of colon screenings.

Freshen up your mindset

For people who experience seasonal depression during the fall and winter months, spring’s longer hours of light may bring a renewed sense of hope. Still, lingering feelings of sadness or other difficult emotions could be more than just the “winter blues.”

“We have a screening test called PHQ-2, which is used to screen for depression,” Dr. Dhanani explained. “Patients typically have to answer two questions, and it is a preliminary screening to see if you have any signs or symptoms of depression.”

“Plenty of times, patients don’t even know they have depression. Often, a person may have had the condition for a while and it could be untreated,” Dr. Dhanani said.

If you feel overwhelmed and need support, we’re here for you. Reach out to your provider or one of our behavioral health specialists for help.

Looking for more ways to stay well? Learn about screenings to help keep you healthy.