What Is Integrated Behavioral Health Care?
Behavioral health problems such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol or substance use disorders are among the most common and disabling health conditions worldwide, collectively robbing millions of their chance to lead healthy and productive lives. Integrated care programs work to address the problems of access and quality in mental health care by providing both medical and mental health care in primary care and other clinical or hospital settings. Offering mental health treatments in primary care is convenient for patients, can reduce the stigma associated with treatment for mental disorders, builds on existing provider-patient relationships, and can help improve care for the millions of patients who have both medical and mental disorders.
Read about Collaborative Care, a specific kind of integrated care.