Conversation Starters

Most clinical encounters are brief, allowing little time for lengthy provider-patient interaction unrelated to the main purpose for the appointment. Fortunately, conversations about emotional wellness do not need to be lengthy. Because emotional wellness is closely related to physical health and overall well-being, there are many opportunities for health care providers to talk to patients about these issues. You can discuss any concept related to emotional wellness (such as balance, self-esteem, or relationships) in your interactions with patients. Your patients might initiate these conversations, or you can bring up the topic in a neutral and non-judgmental way, and then actively listen for cues related to emotional wellness. Your initial goal may be simply to start a dialogue to encourage patients to begin thinking about these issues. Here are some potential conversation-starters:

• "It is important to find time for yourself, even when you are busy. Let's talk about how you are doing that."
• "Many women have multiple roles and responsibilities. Are you finding balance in your own life?"
• "I'd like to help you set a goal related to your emotional wellness."
• "Every woman deals with some stress in her life. Tell me how you relax and recharge yourself."
• "Strong connections are important to our overall health. Tell me about some of your connections with your friends, family, or community."
• "One of the best ways to manage your [insert diagnosis] is to make sure you're taking care of your emotional health. Can we talk about some of the ways you can do this?"

You can use a flyer or a handout (such as the one in this series) as a cue for you or your patients to initiate a conversation about emotional wellness. If your patients have further questions or would like a resource to take home, you could recommend "A Woman's Guide to Emotional Wellness," "A Young Woman's Guide to Emotional Wellness," or other materials, as appropriate. If you recommend a resource to a patient, make note of it and ask about it on subsequent visits.

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