May is L.A. Care Behavioral Health Awareness Month, which coincides with the National Mental Health Month.
Mental illness is an important health issue, and nearly one in five U.S. adults experience it annually.
Mental health plays a key role in your patients’ ability to maintain good physical health. Depression and anxiety may affect their ability to participate in health promoting behaviors. Stigma and discrimination can make it hard to access care.
Screening tools can be a way to identify symptoms and used as a resource to talk with members about treatment options.
Screening tools that can be utilized by Primary Care Physicians include:
- PHQ-9 depression screening
- GAD-7 anxiety screening
- Alcohol and Drug Screening, Assessment, Brief Interventions and Referral to Treatment (SABIRT)
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
You can access the screening tools on our Prop.56 program webpage and our behavioral health resources webpage.
L.A. Care members can contact Beacon Health Options at 1.877.344.2858 to connect with behavioral health services.