I hesitated; usually I’m the one asking questions in interviews. My mind drifts back to my childhood, to vague memories of my children’s dentist. I remember the aquarium in the waiting room, the wall of manila folders behind the reception desk, and the heavy scent of fluorinated bubble gum in the stuffy office air. However, as Dr. Kweku Smith surmises, I cannot pinpoint the exact time of my first visit because I have been a dental patient for as long as I can remember. Coincidentally, I had an appointment with the orthodontist on the day of my phone interview with Smith, a psychological services provider for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
Pediatric dentists work hard to make visits fun and alleviate children’s fears, Smith said. What’s more, children can learn healthy habits and build a relationship with their dentist, maintaining a routine every six months. Without that experience, going to the dentist as an adult would be scary, he said. We are taught from a young age the importance of dental, medical and eye care, so why not embrace mental health care?
“Most people think of it as a disease, a diagnosis,” Smith said wealth. “But if we mentally healthy treat?
I spoke with Smith shortly before he left for Paris, where the former Milwaukee Bucks psychologist is now experiencing his first Olympic and Paralympic Games as a mental health care provider for Team USA. While he and his colleagues are on call 24/7 throughout the Games to respond to crises large and small, Smith encourages patient athletes to get in check-ups when their mental health is in order. He advises the public to manage their mental health in the same way.
“I tell people, seek services before you need them. That way, you have someone who can provide a baseline for your average,” Smith said. “If they see things slowly getting worse, they can hold a mirror up to you and say, Hey, let’s try these things. Or, unfortunately, if a trauma or tragedy occurs, you have a professional on your team who can be there .
Smith added, “Treat mental health just like you do physical health—we get an annual physical, go to the eye doctor, go to the dentist regularly. We don’t go every day. Sometimes you do it as needed until something happens.” , and then maybe you’ll do some more.
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