Behavioral Health

Strategic behavioral health guides for patient care

Updated | 3 Min Read

Overview

The AMA offers a host of comprehensive resources to seamlessly integrate behavioral health into your practice. Check out the following behavioral health integration (BHI) practice guides for more targeted support on a variety of topics.

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 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, if deemed medically necessary, so they may lead more fulfilling and productive lives.


Care for substance use disorder

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


Suicide prevention guide to treat at-risk patients

The suicide prevention 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.


Behavioral health coding for your practice

The behavioral health coding guide outlines key Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes that physicians and their care teams can use (as appropriate) when administering behavioral health screening, treatment and/or preventative services.


Integrated behavioral health care for older adults

This practice guide provides primary care practices with actionable, evidence-based guidance on the nuances of integrated care for the behavioral health needs of older adults.


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.

BHI Compendium

Learn what your practice needs to make the best decisions for the mental health of your patients.


Additional BHI resources


988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

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. 

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