title: Family physicians are essential for mental health care delivery.
abstract: As the largest and most widely distributed of primary care physicians, family physicians have an important role in providing mental health care, especially in rural and underserved areas. However, the proportion of family physicians who report providing mental health care is low. Policy barriers such as payment for mental health services should be explored to ensure access to mental health care for patients across the urban to rural continuum.
authors.affiliation: The Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, DC 20037-1127, USA. ixierali@aamc.org
authors.forename: Imam M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Xierali
authors.forename: Sebastian T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Petterson
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Puffer
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Bazemore
mesh_terms: D057176:Compassionate Use Trials; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010819:Physician's Role; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D014481:United States