Behavioral health is an important part of overall health and includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being (CDC, 2020). An individual’s behavioral health can affect many aspects of their life including their ability to cope with stress, resiliency levels, build sustaining relationships, and make healthy choices. Integrated behavioral health care incorporates primary medical care with behavioral healthcare. Integrated behavioral health care includes whole person wellness with the individual as part of the team and care includes both the individual and their support system. The movement towards integrated behavioral health emphasizes the importance of whole person health.

During the community listening sessions for health priority selection in 2019, 34.2% of participating community members identified a need for increased access to behavioral health services, resources, social supports, and behavioral health professionals (Catawba County Public Health, 2020). From 2016 to 2019, 13.2% of all emergency department visits by Catawba County residents were for anxiety, mood, and psychotic disorders (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2020). Access to equitable and affordable primary care that incorporates behavioral is both an applicable and realistic need as Catawba County continues to move forward and cope with the unintended consequences of COVID-19.

References:

Catawba County Public Health. (2020). 2019 Catawba County Community Health Assessment. Retrieved on November 30, 2020 from https://catawbacountync.gov/site/assets/files/2488/2019_catawba_county_cha.pdf.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Learn about Mental Health. Retrieved on November 30, 2020 from https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (2020). NCDETECT- Emergency Department Data for Catawba County for Anxiety, Mood, and Psychotic Disorders from 1/1/2019 to 11/30/2020. Retrieved on December 1, 2020 from https://ncdetect.org/.

At the Behavioral Health Work Group meeting on January 19, 2022, work group members reviewed and updated their current strategies based on what was working well, what was not working well and/or could be removed or changed, and how these strategies impact health disparities in Catawba County. The work group’s action plan was updated to include the following strategies. Action steps related to the followling strategies are discussed and updated during monthly work group meetings. 

Strategies: Whole Person Care & Technology Supported Care

• Behavioral health primary care integration, including bringing mental health screenings into primary care settings and Integrative care team approach (holistic)
• Telehealth and virtual health expansion and outreach, including education on community benefits of using these options. [Technology supported care includes telehealth (phone conversations) and virtual health (provider can see the client) for behavioral health care.]

Strategies: Community Engagement 

• Resources on techniques to deal with anxiety and depressive disorders
  • An example: CRM (Community Resiliency Model)
• Reducing behavioral health stigma
• Education for the community on anxiety, mood, and psychotic disorders and resources available for behavioral health care
• Mental health first aid training
• Working with the businesses/ worksites/ workforce development