2017 Awareness Day Final Report 2017_ADayFinalReport | Page 4

Integrating behavioral health and
primary care for children, youth,
and young adults with mental
and/or substance use disorders
Children, youth, and young adults don’t experience
health conditions in silos. Integrating primary and
behavioral health care is the most effective approach
to provide services and supports to children, youth, and
young adults experiencing a behavioral health challenge.
FULLY INTEGRATED CARE MEANS:
Each year, SAMHSA releases data to enrich the Awareness Day conversations
taking place on stage and through social media. Released on May 4, 2017,
SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health data for 2005–2014 revealed
the connection between depression and physical health conditions.
The data show that asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, obesity (in females), and
diabetes are associated with a past year major depressive episode (MDE) among
adolescents. These new statistics further demonstrate the importance of diabetes
and asthma care practitioners collaborating with behavioral health care providers
and youth and families.
“We need to provide health care to all of our children
that takes into account both their physical and mental
health needs.”
THOMAS E. PRICE, M.D.
Former HHS Secretary
“The great news is that we know integrated care
works; providing behavioral health care in a
primary medical care setting reduces costs and
leads to improved patient outcomes.”
DR. GEORGE SIGOUNAS, M.S., PH.D.
Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration
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Partnering for Help and Hope
● ● Locating behavioral and physical health practition ers
in the same physical space, while aligning specific
procedures and protocols to facilitate collaboration;
● ● Using phone consultation and telemedicine
programs (in which a pediatrician can call or video
conference a team of behavioral health providers
and consult with them while the patient is still in
their office);
● ● Helping primary care providers develop relationships
with behavioral health providers to better coordinate
care for children, youth, and young adults.
● ● Acquiring knowledge of community-level systems
so that all health care providers work as one team.
Partnering Across Disciplines to Address Whole
Health: Awareness Day 2017 Video Short
Partnering to Strengthen Communication Between
Providers, Youth, & Families: AD 2017 Video Short
Partnering to Improve Outcomes for Youth with
Chronic Health Conditions: AD 2017 Video Short