DR. EBER: Relationships between primary care providers and mental health professionals are essential in managing patients with mental health disorders. Communication about the patient’s progress is especially important if the primary care provider is the one prescribing medication for the patient’s mental health disorder. Enhancing your referral network increases the support you have when you encounter patients who are suffering from one of these disorders.
I know that as primary care providers, your schedules are busy, and you may still have concerns about being able to identify patients with mental health disorders and have conversations about treatment options in the limited time you have. Every patient is different; some will be more open with you than others, and some will be more easily identifiable.
But, by spending a little extra time with potentially at-risk patients and addressing the root cause of their issues, you’ll save time in the long run and be better prepared and more confident in identifying and treating patients suffering from mental health conditions. As a result, you’ll drastically improve patients’ physical and mental health.
Next, you can access your certificate of completion via the link below and visit the “Resources” linked to at the end of this transcript.
DR. RODGERS: Thanks for participating!
Depression Screening and Medicare
CMS Substance Use Screening & Brief Intervention Reimbursement Information
Substance Use Screening & Brief Intervention Reimbursement Map
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) information on depression
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) information on substance use
For PTSD:
For depression and suicide risk:
For suicide risk:
For substance use:
For GAD:
Communication Techniques for interviewing patients and discussing treatment options
Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC): Safety Planning Template
SAMHSA's mobile app, Suicide Safe, is based on the nationally recognized Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T) card. It is designed to help primary care and behavioral health providers integrate suicide prevention strategies into their practices and address suicide risk among their patients. Download the app here:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. By dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255), the call is routed to the nearest crisis center in our national network of more than 150 crisis centers. The Lifeline’s national network of local crisis centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals day and night.
SAMHSA Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990
The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the nation’s first hotline dedicated to providing disaster crisis counseling. The toll-free Helpline operates 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week. This free, confidential and multilingual, crisis support service is available via telephone (1-800-985-5990) and SMS (Text ‘TalkWithUs’ to 66746) to U.S. residents who are experiencing psychological distress as a result of a natural or man-made disaster, incidents of mass violence or any other disasters. Callers are connected to trained and caring professionals from the closest crisis counseling center in the network. The helpline staff provides confidential counseling, referrals and other needed support services.
This concludes the simulation At-Risk in Primary Care. Thank you for learning how to screen patients for substance use and mental health conditions, conduct brief interventions using motivational interviewing techniques, and coordinate referrals or follow-up care. Please click the link below to request a certificate of completion.