Intermountain Healthcare has a new Behavioral Health Clinic that is opened in the Cheyenne location. It represents more access to behavioral health needs. But also, it represents new service that is available through mental health integration.
What is Mental Health Integration?
Mental health has a big effect on physical health — and vice versa. Mental Health Integration (MHI) is an approach to healthcare that focuses on both. One team — led by your doctor — cares for your mental and physical health needs. And it all happens right in your doctor’s office.
Your Mental Health Integration Team
A Mental Health Integration team may include the following caregivers:
- You and your family: You’re the most important team member. You and your family work with your doctor to design the best care plan, and you take an active role in your own care.
- Your doctor: He or she is the team leader who recommends and explains a care plan, and then manages the plan with the help of your team.
- Mental health provider: This teammate is a psychologist or social worker who provides counseling and talk therapy.
- Care manager or health advocate: This is a nurse or medical assistant who keeps in touch with you, connects you with resources and care providers, and helps resolve problems.
- Psychiatrist or psychiatric APRN: This team member is a doctor or nurse practitioner with special training in mental health treatment who consults on medications and complex emotional illnesses.
This location is important because it helps underserved populations. The clinic gives important resources, such as connections to substance use disorder help. Also, assistance for Social Determinants of Health needs (which are the non-medical factors that affect a community’s overall health, quality of life and even the life expectancy of a zip code)
The social determinants of health include:
- Transportation
- Housing stability
- Education
- Food Security
- Access to mental and physical health needs.
