Consumer NZ: Be careful what you say to GP

File photo. The Aucklander

Consumer Magazine is advising people to be careful what they say to their GP after one man was refused cover for mental illness.

An article in this month's edition explains how Rob was asked to sign an exclusion for mental health issues because he had told his doctor stress may have caused his irritable bowel syndrome.

The magazine's editor David Naulls says there's a tendency for people to use words like stressed or depressed, when they aren't clinical or psychiatric issues.

"That's the thing, it's not to use these terms too loosely talking to your doctor about things that are just normal events. This is quite different to when people have real depression," he says.

Mr Naulls says if people have serious problems they should to talk to their GP or health professional about them.

- Newstalk ZB