The AMA has released four new how-to guides empowering physician practices and health systems with practical strategies for overcoming obstacles to accessible and equitable treatment for their patients’ behavioral, mental and physical health needs.

These behavioral health integration (BHI) practice guides focus on four key areas of effective integrated care:

• Practice workflow design
• Pharmacological treatment
• Substance use disorder screening and treatment
• Suicide prevention

Designing a workflow for behavioral health integration

The workflow guide identifies key questions and criteria to help organizations establish a BHI workflow that will suit both the needs of their practice and ultimately their patients.

Psychopharmacology guide on prescribing psychotropic medications

The psychopharmacology practice guide offers evidence-based guidance to primary care practices regarding when and how to treat patients with psychotropic medications so they may lead more fulfilling and productive lives

Substance use disorder treatment guide

The practice guide on substance use disorder provides primary care providers with actionable, evidence-based steps to identify and address unhealthy substance use/misuse in their patients.

Suicide prevention guide to treat at-risk patients

This suicide prevention practice guide empowers physician practices and health systems with actionable steps and evidence-based resources to identify at-risk patients and connect them with the most appropriate treatment plan.

Also, the BHI Collaborative's BHI Compendium, which serves as a tool to help provide a proven pathway for delivering integrated behavioral care, has been enhanced with additional resources and case studies ensuring physician practices and health systems have the most recent and actionable information at their disposal.

• Behavioral health integration in physician practices
• Behavioral health integration (BHI) Overcoming Obstacles webinar series 
• Steps Forward BHI Module

With an increased number of people reporting worsening mental health in recent years, it is imperative that people are aware of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) telephone program.

People experiencing a suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress can call, chat or text 988, and speak to trained crisis counselors. The national hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The previous National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will continue to be operational and route calls to 988 indefinitely.