EP175: Has Medicine Lost Its Mind? with Dr. Robert

Dr. Robert Smith is a speaker of Finding Revitalization After the Physical Effects of Trauma Summit
Talk Title: Has Medicine Lost Its Mind?
Join us: https://www.healthrivedream.com/Finding-Revitalization

Every day, millions of Americans face untreated mental health challenges—and too often, their first point of contact is a medical doctor unequipped to help. Most physicians aren’t trained to recognize or treat mental health conditions, yet they’re the ones patients turn to first. This gap in training has devastating consequences, contributing to the mental health crisis we see today.

Dr. Robert Smith, a seasoned physician and thought leader, is sounding the alarm: medical doctors need fundamental training in mental health care. His new book, Has Medicine Lost Its Mind? Why Our Mental Health System is Failing Us and What Should Be Done to Cure (Prometheus Books, March 4, 2025), not only exposes the problem but also lays out a bold, practical roadmap for reforming the system—and saving lives. He makes a compelling and provocative case for why mental health treatment and information must be widely available and not thought of as the province of the psychiatric profession. For any person who has ever felt frustrated talking to a doctor about depression, anxiety, stress or grief, Dr. Smith will provide validation. And hope!

Why This Conversation Matters Mental illness touches everyone—either personally or through someone we love. Unlike physical illnesses, the impacts of stress, depression, and grief are far-reaching and often invisible. The numbers are staggering: one in four Americans will face a major mental illness in any given year, and nearly 75% of those individuals won’t receive treatment.

Dr. Smith’s first-hand experiences reveal how the medical system is failing these patients. Physicians—without the necessary training in mental health—often misdiagnose or fail to treat these conditions, leaving patients to suffer. Through his powerful stories from the front lines, Dr. Smith brings the urgency of this issue into sharp focus. He’s not just diagnosing the problem—he’s offering hope and solutions.

The Big Picture Dr. Smith believes change starts with education. He’s calling for a new “Flexner Report” (modeled on the transformative 1910 study that revolutionized medical education) to address this crisis. His step-by-step plan for integrating mental health training into medical education is ambitious but achievable—and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

This conversation is more than just an eye-opener. It’s a call to action for your listeners, inviting them to rethink what quality health care should look like.

Key Topics Dr. Smith Can Discuss:

• Why so many mental health issues go untreated and misdiagnosed—and what it costs us as a society.
• How medical doctors can better address mental health needs with proper training. And tips on how patients should talk to doctors about mental health.
• How to know if you should see a doctor about depression, anxiety or other mental health issues.
• The hidden consequences of the mind-body split in modern medicine. The importance of integrating mindfulness and exercise into "treatment."
• Practical solutions for integrating mental health care into the broader medical system.
• How listeners can support Dr. Smith’s mission to fix modern medicine.

Listen for Yourself. Dr. Smith has been widely interviewed by national media ranging from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Today Show and more. He is a frequent columnist for Psychology Today. Take a moment to listen to him here on:

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