Medical specialists emphasize holistic care and mental health detection

Medical professionals highlight the critical role of internal medicine and family medicine in providing integral patient care and identifying underlying health issues.

Internal medicine specialists are trained to manage complex cases by integrating a patient's medical history, physical exams, and symptoms to understand their health as a whole. In Brazil, internal medicine specialists account for 12.4% of the country's medical specialists. However, in the state of Mato Grosso, there is a shortage of these professionals, with only 17 clinicians per 100,000 inhabitants compared to the national average of 30.

Furthermore, primary care plays a vital role in detecting mental health issues. Patients often seek medical attention for physical symptoms—such as persistent headaches, insomnia, fatigue, or digestive problems—without realizing these may be manifestations of emotional distress, anxiety, or depression. Family and community medicine practitioners emphasize the importance of longitudinal monitoring to identify behavioral or routine changes that may signal mental health struggles.