In this episode of Ditch the Lab Coat, Dr. Mark Bonta is joined by Dr. Robert C. Smith, University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Psychiatry at Michigan State University, to tackle one of modern healthcare’s biggest blind spots: mental health care in the medical system.

Dr. Smith—renowned educator, author, and advocate—pulls back the curtain on how, despite mental health problems being the most common health condition seen in practice, most doctors are dangerously undertrained to diagnose or treat them. 

He explains that medicine’s longstanding “mind-body split” traces back centuries, shaping medical education, health systems, and even our billing codes to treat mental and physical health as separate entities. The result? Nearly 75% of mental health care is provided in primary care settings by clinicians who received only about 2% of their training in mental health.

The conversation is both a critique and a call to action. Dr. Smith advocates for a revolution in medical education—a new “Flexner Report”—to fully integrate mental health teaching and the biopsychosocial model at every level of training. He shares lessons from history, the cultural and structural forces behind the mind-body divide, and practical examples from the clinic—like why lifestyle factors and trauma histories are so often ignored.

Dr. Bonta and Dr. Smith also offer practical advice for both clinicians and patients: how to advocate for better care, what questions to ask, and the importance of seeing patients as whole people rather than a sum of body parts or checklists.

If you’ve ever felt that your mental health concerns weren’t taken seriously, or if you’re a healthcare provider frustrated by a broken system, this episode offers both context and hope—a blueprint for creating a healthcare system that truly sees and treats the whole person.

Episode Highlights

1. Biopsychosocial Model’s Limits : Treating biological, psychological, and social factors as separate fails patients; true integration is essential for holistic care.
2. Insufficient Mental Health Training : Most doctors get minimal mental health education, despite facing these issues daily in primary care settings.
3. Systemic Checkboxes Over People: Medical culture prioritizes checklists and protocols, often neglecting patients’ real experiences and interconnected life factors.
4. Chronic Disease and Mental Health : Overlooking mental health and lifestyle factors worsens outcomes for chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes.
5. PTSD as Teaching Tool : Post-traumatic stress highlights how physical and psychological symptoms are deeply entwined and inseparable in patient care.
6. Need For Top-Down Reform : Only policy-level, systemic changes can mandate integration of mental health into mainstream medical education and practice.
7. Patient Advocacy Is Crucial : Change won’t arrive without active voices from patients and the public demanding better, more integrated care.
8. Actionable Lifestyle Advice : Regular exercise, good diet, mindfulness, and honest self-reflection can support both mental and physical resilience.
9. Communication Beats Technology : As artificial intelligence advances, true human connection in healthcare—listening, understanding, empathy—remains irreplaceable.

Episode Timestamps

• 04:53 – Biopsychosocial Model Critique
• 07:32 – PTSD: Linking Mental and Physical Health
• 10:20 – “Mind-Body Split in Medicine”
• 15:53 – Mind-Body Connection in Chronic Care
• 17:40 – Lifestyle-Induced Health Complications
• 21:32 – “Reforming Medicine: A Systems Approach”
• 26:25 – Biopsychosocial Model in Healthcare
• 29:35 – Mental Health Training Shortfall
• 30:41 – Integrated Biopsychosocial Medical Training
• 35:20 – Interdisciplinary Approach to Trauma Inquiry
• 37:44 – Lifestyle Hacks for Mental and Physical Resilience
• 43:24 – Healthcare System’s Training Limitations
• 45:11 – Prioritize Mental Health Awareness

DISCLAMER >>>>>>    The Ditch Lab Coat podcast serves solely for general informational purposes and does not serve as a substitute for professional medical services such as medicine or nursing. It does not establish a doctor/patient relationship, and the use of information from the podcast or linked materials is at the user's own risk. The content does not aim to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and users should promptly seek guidance from healthcare professionals for any medical conditions.  

 >>>>>> The expressed opinions belong solely to the hosts and guests, and they do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Hospitals, Clinics, Universities, or any other organization associated with the host or guests.    

Disclosures: Ditch The Lab Coat podcast is produced by (Podkind.co) and is independent of Dr. Bonta's teaching and research roles at McMaster University, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Queens University.