(NewsNation) — Psychologist, best-selling author and legendary television host Phil McGraw, better known as Dr. Phil, is urging Americans to start having in-person conversations to combat strong political divisions and the nation’s mental health crisis.

“Quit trying to be right, start solving problems,” Dr. Phil said during an interview with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo. “We need to start talking to each other. Just because you disagree with someone doesn’t mean you have to hate them. You can disagree, and then you can go to lunch.”

Dr. Phil is one of the country’s most trusted mental health professionals. He has a way of taking on the toughest topics and breaking them down to give common sense advice that resonates with his viewers.

After ending a 21-year run with CBS Media Ventures in May 2023, Dr. Phil teamed up with Fort Worth-based Trinity Broadcasting Network to launch a new television network: “Merit Street Media.”

“This country was founded on, and built on, meritocracy, where talent, hard work is rewarded. … We need to get back to recognizing that when people work hard, they should be rewarded. When they don’t, they shouldn’t,” Dr. Phil said on “Cuomo.”

Dr. Phil alluded to the “woke culture,” and said there are people “trying to pretend our history didn’t happen.”

“But you can’t change history. I’m not left, I’m not right. I’m fact-based. I deal with science, facts, reality. I deal with real people that come to me with real challenges looking for solution. … You can’t make things up because you want them to be different. And that’s something that is really disrupting a lot of people’s feelings of safety and security.”

His show “Dr. Phil Primetime” is set to premiere April 2 on his new network, which will also feature live news programs, true crime dramas and more. He’s also published a new book: “We’ve Got Issues: How You Can Stand Strong for America’s Soul and Sanity.”