American Psychologist
Volume 69, Issue 4, 2014, Pages 377-387

Integrating primary care and behavioral health with four special populations: Children with special needs, people with serious mental illness, refugees, and deaf people (Article)

Pollard Jr. R.Q. , Betts W.R. , Carroll J.K. , Waxmonsky J.A. , Barnett S. , deGruy F.V. , Pickler L.L. , Kellar-Guenther Y.
  • a Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, United States
  • b Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, United States
  • c Department of Family Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, United States
  • d Departments of Psychiatry and Family Medicine, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, United States
  • e Department of Family Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, United States
  • f Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, United States
  • g Departments of Family Medicine and Genetics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, United States
  • h Department of Community and Behavioral Health, Colorado School of Public Health, United States

Abstract

Special patient populations can present unique opportunities and challenges to integrating primary care and behavioral health services. This article focuses on four special populations: children with special needs, persons with severe and persistent mental illness, refugees, and deaf people who communicate via sign language. The current state of primary care and behavioral health collaboration regarding each of these four populations is examined via Doherty, McDaniel, and Baird's (1996) five-level collaboration model. The section on children with special needs offers contrasting case studies that highlight the consequences of effective versus ineffective service integration. The challenges and potential benefits of service integration for the severely mentally ill are examined via description of PRICARe (Promoting Resources for Integrated Care and Recovery), a model program in Colorado. The discussion regarding a refugee population focuses on service integration needs and emerging collaborative models as well as ways in which refugee mental health research can be improved. The section on deaf individuals examines how sign language users are typically marginalized in health care settings and offers suggestions for improving the health care experiences and outcomes of deaf persons. A well-integrated model program for deaf persons in Austria is described. All four of these special populations will benefit from further integration of primary care and mental health services. © 2014 American Psychological Association.

Author Keywords

Primary care special needs SPMI Deaf Refugee

Index Keywords

Humans refugee mental health service Persons With Hearing Impairments rehabilitation patient handicapped child Mentally Ill Persons Delivery of Health Care, Integrated Disabled Children standards Mental Health Services integrated health care system human primary health care Refugees mental patient Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84900809007&doi=10.1037%2fa0036220&partnerID=40&md5=c64d4c072cd2a86d63b64242cabb14d8
DOI: 10.1037/a0036220
ISSN: 0003066X
Cited by: 21
Original Language: English