#AUGUST NEWSLETTER
August celebrated National Health Center Week (8-14) that recognized community-based health centers for providing comprehensive services to include medical, dental, and behavioral health care. For over 50 years, community centers have offered affordable preventative and primary care to “30 million patients at 11,000 service delivery sites in every state and territory in the United States” (National Association of Community Health Centers, 2021). This was created in 1965 to assist vulnerable individuals and families as an initiative to end poverty, racial injustice and bridge the gap in health disparities (United States Census Bureau, 2021).
Mental health providers feel that integrating behavioral health with primary care is a better approach to reach individuals living with a mental health disorder. This collaborative approach will allow providers to have more insight about a patient and discern the best way to treat all their health care needs. Also, individuals seeing their primary care provider stated less concerns about stigmas associated with mental health (Kane County Mental Health Council, 2016). Positive outcomes include, “decreasing depression levels, improving quality of life, decreasing stress, and lowering rates of psychiatric hospitalization” (Kane County Mental Health Council, 2016).
This year’s theme is The Chemistry for Strong Communities which reflects a great depiction of how we honor front line staff and a remembrance of those we lost from comorbidities as well as Covid-19. I am grateful to those who have dedicated their service to strengthen and heal our local communities and provide equitable and quality health care that everyone deserves.
Amourie Johnson, RN
If you or someone you know has talked about contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Disclaimer: Although I am a health professional, I am not a mental health specialist, and this article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice from a mental health provider. The information provided is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and will give credit to the source as a guide and reference to my thoughts and views.
#REFERENCES
Kane County Behavioral Health Council (2016). The importance of behavioral health and primary care integration. Retrieved from https://www.wesupportmentalhealth.org/the-importance-of-behavioral-health-and-primary-care-integration/
National Association of Community Health Centers (2021). National Health Center Week 2021. Retrieved from https://healthcenterweek.org/
United States Census Bureau (2021). National Health Center Week: August 8-14, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/health-center-week.html