New initiative could increase area's mental health services
Martinsville BulletinMay 31, 2017
MARTINSVILLE?Local officials hope a new
"I sure hope so," said
In 2016, Preston explained, Piedmont, which serves
That's where
The
A health-care safety net includes such organizations as community health centers, free and charitable clinics, health departments and hospitals that help people who can't get health care.
As for the first prong of the initiative, depression increases the rate of mortality among people with diabetes by 30 percent due to nonadherence with diabetes treatment plans. Nonadherence also leads to medical emergencies and higher medical costs.
The foundation will award competitive grants to health-care safety net organizations with a paid behavioral health professional to address depression in their diabetic patients by way of an elevated level of integration of behavioral health services with primary medical care.
"It will help HSN (health-care safety net) clinics treat the whole person and address the mental health challenges many patients face that can make it so difficult to conquer or manage diabetes,"
As for the second prong, trauma-informed care, research shows a history of trauma in both children and adults significantly increases the likelihood of long-lasting negative impacts on mental and physical health. Trauma-informed care emphasizes physical, psychological and emotional safety.
The foundation will offer trainings, tools, skills development and technical assistance to health-care safety net providers interested in developing and implementing trauma-informed care and resiliency training in their organizations.
"By creating supportive environments that effectively recognize and respond to the impact of trauma and teach patients resiliency skills, we can significantly improve the health of patients," Oswalt said.
As for the third prong ? helping address the scarcity of psychiatric nurse practitioners ? 75 percent of
Shortfalls
To help address this shortage, the foundation will promote and fund full scholarships for nurse practitoners interested in becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Recipients will be required to work two years in the health-care safety net after graduation. The foundation also will help expand psychiatric nurse practitioner programs in targeted
"Providing integrated health care is vital," Preston said. "Treating the 'whole person' is imperative. This new behavioral health initiative hopefully will strengthen this goal, as well as increase capacity in our community. Piedmont and the
"We also support the emphasis on trauma-informed care, as many of the individuals we serve bear the effects of traumatic experiences," he added. "Piedmont currently collaborates with Bassett Family Practice, a federally qualified health center, which provides medical and behavioral health, as well as reduction of risk factors, and increased access to medical services, primarily for the uninsured and underserved in the
Preston said Piedmont and the coalition recognize that people with behavioral health concerns frequently experience physical health problems that complicate recovery, which can shorten life expectancy significantly. Piedmont and the coalition currently have a memorandum of agreement that aims to formalize an ongoing collaborative effort to align primary and behavioral health services in
"Piedmont's mission is 'to help individuals, families, and the community enhance their quality of life by providing a highly effective continuum of behavioral health services, including prevention, treatment, education, and support within available resources," he added. "Piedmont's mission to help and enhance someone's quality of life is definitely strengthened through strong community partnerships and opportunities like the