Human behavior, environment and emotional well-being emerged as defining threads in the Tri-State Defender’s latest community forum on healthcare, where panelists pointed to motivation, support systems and trust in physicians as critical factors in how care is experienced. In an era when internet searches and social media feeds often serve as stand-ins for advice from medical professions, the conversation underscored a more complex reality: that health in Memphis is shaped not only by access to care but by the ability to connect mind, body and resources in everyday life.
“You cannot disconnect the head from the body,” said Dr. Patrick Malone, an internal medicine physician at Regional One Health. “If we value our health, we will take better care of ourselves.”
The forum, held at Memphis Health Center on Wednesday, May 6, was moderated by Lori Spicer Robertson and featured Malone, Judge Sheila Bruce Renfroe and Dr. Veronica Gant, clinical director of Memphis Health Center. The discussion was part of the Tri-State Defender’s TSD in the Community series exploring issues impacting Memphis and the Black community.
The idea that mental and physical health are inseparable set the tone for a discussion that moved beyond diagnosis to include environment, access and day-to-day life.
“Some people think if they’re breathing, they’re doing fine,” Gant said. “But what health actually looks like is access — access to healthy food, affordable options, quality sleep and the ability to manage stress.”
Renfroe said what is often labeled as mental health can sometimes be rooted in unmet basic needs.
“Some things that look like mental health issues may not be,” she said. “Sleep deprivation, malnourishment and environmental stress can cause people to act in ways they normally would not.”
Gant expanded on that point, describing how environmental conditions directly affect well-being.
“We know in some neighborhoods people aren’t able to sleep because all they hear is bullets and guns going off all night,” she said. “That affects being able to manage stress.”
Malone brought the conversation back to how those realities present in the exam room, where broader social conditions often surface in personal ways.
“Sometimes the only conversation a person has is when they come to the doctor,” he said. “So, I listen, even though sometimes I get accused of staying with patients too long. But I’ve found if you listen long enough the answers come to you.”
He said time spent with patients is essential to building trust and improving outcomes.
“Many times, all patients need is reassurance. If their blood pressure is always up and they manage to get it down, that is something they can feel good about,” Malone said. “Or when things don’t look good, I try to give hope. Primary care physicians are in a position to help patients take the next steps.”
Renfroe pointed to the long-term impact of unmet needs, particularly on young people.
“A lot of our children are in survival mode,” she said. “We see children fending for themselves, taking on the role of parents and even becoming providers. That’s why trauma-based support is so important.”
She said mental health challenges exist across a wide spectrum.
“Four out of five people will experience some form of mental health issue,” Renfroe said. “That includes a little anxiety for a short period of time, like after losing a family member. Some people recover quickly. Others do not, and may need medication or counseling.”
Panelists also pointed to a disconnect between how health is portrayed and how it is lived, particularly in under-resourced communities.
“What we see in mainstream media are perfect bodies, people eating healthy, (earning) fair wages,” Gant said. “That’s not the reality for many patients we see.”
Barriers to care such as cost, transportation and lack of information remain persistent.
“Some people just don’t have the knowledge about self-care,” Renfroe said. “But even with (funding) cuts, there are resources. Many are a Google search away.”
Gant emphasized the need for a more coordinated, patient-centered system.
“Patients shouldn’t have to answer the same questions five or six times,” she said. “We need collaboration so people feel comfortable and have a sense of peace.”
She also called for mobile care solutions.
“Instead of saying ‘come to us,’ sometimes we need to go to them,” Gant said.
Malone said building trust is becoming more difficult as patients increasingly rely on information from social media.
“Social media makes developing trust harder now, especially with younger patients. People come in telling me what they want because they read something on social media or that something worked for their friend,” he said. “But there’s no one-size-fits-all.”
Malone said primary care includes meeting patients where they are, often by asking open-ended questions and working to understand habits and behaviors.
“Sometimes to figure out if a medication is actually working, I might say, ‘bring the pill bottle in. Let’s count the pills,’” Malone said. “Every patient is different, but if patients are being honest with you, you can help them.”
He said that approach underscores the need for more physicians in primary care.
“There’s a real need for more young people to go into primary care,” Malone said. “There are fewer people going into primary care. It doesn’t pay a lot of money, but we are part of a unified team in position to hear patients and make patients feel comfortable about their care.”
As the discussion closed, the panel returned to a shared understanding: Health is shaped as much by daily conditions and relationships as it is by clinical care.
“Ultimately,” Renfroe said, “you can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself first.”
The next TSD in the Community installment will take place in June and will focus on government.
