Lifestyle Psychiatry: The Missing Tool in Mental Health Care

About this episode

This episode discusses the integration of lifestyle medicine into psychiatry and its impact on mental health care.

Welcome to another episode of Flip Your Script , a vodcast by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, hosted by ACLM President Dr. Padmaja Patel. In each episode, we explore five key takeaways on how lifestyle medicine is helping clinicians and leaders reimagine the future of healthcare. This episode, “Lifestyle Psychiatry: The Missing Tool in Mental Health Care” features two visionary leaders advancing the integration of lifestyle medicine into psychiatry: Drs. Gia Merlo and Ramaswamy Viswanathan. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, leadership within organized medicine, and global advocacy, they share how lifestyle interventions are transforming mental health care. The conversation explores the growing momentum behind lifestyle psychiatry and why it’s emerging as a critical “fourth tool” alongside psychotherapy, pharmacology, and somatic treatments. You’ll hear powerful personal stories that sparked their journeys, along with real-world examples of how addressing physical health, nutrition, movement, connection, and purpose can profoundly impact mental health outcomes. If you’re interested in mental health innovation, clinician well-being, patient-centered care, or…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Padmaja Patel

Guests: Dr. Gia Merlo, Dr. Ramaswamy Viswanathan

Topics covered

• lifestyle psychiatry
• mental health care
• lifestyle medicine
• psychotherapy
• pharmacology
• somatic treatments

Keywords

• lifestyle psychiatry
• mental health
• lifestyle medicine
• psychotherapy
• pharmacology
• somatic treatments
• well-being

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: American College of Lifestyle Medicine

More episodes of Flip your Script

• The Missing Link in Healthcare: The Power of Health Coaching · June 10, 2026 · 31 min
• The Future of Surgery Starts Before the OR · May 27, 2026 · 18 min
• The Courage to Pivot: From Sick Care to Lifestyle Medicine · May 13, 2026 · 23 min
• Fixing the System: Making Value-Based Care Actually Work · April 29, 2026 · 33 min
• From Buzzwords to Breakthroughs: Making High-Value Care a Reality · April 15, 2026 · 24 min
• How Physical & Occupational Therapists Are Leading Lifestyle Medicine Forward · March 18, 2026 · 26 min