Strategic action 5:
Enhance primary care suicide prevention
Overview
Primary care providers (PCPs) play a crucial role in addressing mental health concerns, often serving as the first point of contact for individuals seeking mental health support.
Approximately 60% of mental health care is delivered within the primary care setting.
This is partly due to the increasing prevalence of mental health issues and the limited access to specialized mental health professionals.
Here’s a breakdown of the relationship between primary care and mental health:
1.
Primary Care as the Front Line:
PCPs are often the first healthcare professionals patients encounter when experiencing mental health symptoms.
They are responsible for identifying, assessing, and managing a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.
Many PCPs use screening tools like the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 to help identify patients who may need further evaluation or treatment.
PCPs may prescribe medications, provide brief counseling, or refer patients to specialists when necessary.
2.
Integration of Mental Health in Primary Care:
Integrating mental health services into primary care settings can improve access to care and improve patient outcomes.
This integration can take various forms, from co-location of mental health professionals in the same facility to full integration within a comprehensive care plan.
Collaborative care models, where PCPs work with mental health specialists and care managers, are also effective.
3.
Challenges and Opportunities:
PCPs face challenges in managing mental health issues due to limited training and time constraints.
There is a growing need for more resources and support for PCPs to effectively address the mental health needs of their patients.
Telehealth can play a role in expanding access to mental health care in primary care settings, particularly in underserved areas, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians | AAFP.
4.
The Future of Primary Care and Mental Health:
Efforts are underway to improve collaboration between primary care and mental health professionals.
Integrating mental health into primary care is crucial for addressing the growing mental health crisis and ensuring that individuals receive the support they need.
Further research is needed to identify the most effective models for integrating mental health services into primary care settings.
Action Item 5.1
Facilitate an Asset Mapping among healthcare or health related organizations to better understand the challenges and gaps.
Responsible Partners/Persons: Together with Veterans Steering Committee, VNL
Resources Needed: Funding
Action steps + processes:
• Asset Mapping: Holy Cross Hospital, VA, Taos Whole Health, DOH, Questa – PMS, Women’s Health Institute, Mountain Home Health Care, VA – Albuquerque, Urgent Care, IHS, TCCY, Schreiber’s, El Centro Penasco, Family Practice, Acupuncturists, Alternative Medicine, Wellness.
• Do care providers screen for veterans?
Note: We are limiting ourselves to our meetings
Action Item 5.2
Increase awareness and relationship building with clinics and share about TWV; Distribute Suicide Prevention ToolKit–download from website, print.
Responsible Partners/Persons: Together with Veterans Steering Committee
Resources Needed: Funding, marketing materials, training materials and promotional one-pagers to share
Action steps + processes:
Action Item 5.3
Participate in existing community meetings to share about TWV.
Responsible Partners/Persons: Together with Veterans Steering Committee
Resources Needed: Funding, marketing materials, training materials and promotional one-pagers to share
Action steps + processes:
• Research what meetings we need to attend and participate in