Breaking Down Walls Between Physical and Behavioral Health

Coplin’s fully integrated approach to care improves access to behavioral health providers and services.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a month that highlights the importance of mental health and its connection to physical well-being and overall wellness.

Mental health is a special concern for those living in rural areas. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 7.7 million nonmetropolitan adults—about 1 in 4 adults—reported having a mental illness, while 1.6 million (about 4.8% of adults in nonmetropolitan areas) reported having serious thoughts of suicide.

Unfortunately, attaining quality behavioral care can prove challenging in rural or underserved communities. In these areas, there are often a limited number of providers, and transportation and other challenges can limit access.

Coplin Health Systems has made behavioral health a priority—not just during Mental Health Awareness Month, but year-round—to help make the communities we serve healthier.

Understanding Behavioral Health

Behavioral health challenges can arise from mental health issues and from multiple situations and life events, ranging from dealing with a medical condition to family or relationship issues to financial or job-related stress. Individuals may also seek out a behavioral health specialist as they pursue healthy lifestyle changes.

Behavioral health specialists can assist with a wide range of high-risk or family-related issues. These can include issues related to substance use disorders, anxiety, depression, couple/marital problems, child behavior problems, stress, and more.

While these issues are common, too few individuals seek the care they need. One reason they avoid seeking this care is the stigma associated with behavioral health issues and care. This stigma can be minimized through providing services discreetly and ensuring patient privacy.

Access to Quality Behavioral Care

Coplin Health Systems is committed to making access to quality, compassionate behavioral health services both easy and convenient.

We offer a full range of behavioral health services. And through our integrated care approach, we make these services available at multiple locations in our network and remotely via phone-based appointments or online via telehealth.

We also employ technology to overcome barriers related to geography, time, and travel. Telepsychiatry has become a leading application of telehealth technology, as it makes high-quality behavioral health services accessible regardless of geographic location.

To ensure privacy, patients can access psychiatric care or counseling from the comfort of their own homes. Or, if they prefer, they have the option of attending their appointment in-office, from a private room.

By utilizing telehealth technology, our providers can see more patients and offer greater flexibility in how care is delivered.

Coplin’s Fully Integrated Approach

Through Coplin’s fully integrated healthcare approach, various providers—primary care physicians, specialists, mental health professionals, and other allied health professionals—collaborate to deliver coordinated patient-centered care.

At the heart of this approach is the interconnectedness of physical and behavioral health, and the belief that addressing both is essential to realizing the best health outcomes.

From the patient’s perspective, fully integrated healthcare means easier access to behavioral health services. A primary care provider can provide a referral for behavioral health services and can share access to patient information with a behavioral health specialist to ensure seamless, coordinated care, further breaking down the walls between medical and behavioral care.

For example, an individual seeing their primary care provider may have elevated blood pressure. During the appointment, the provider learns that the individual is under a great deal of stress at home and work and provides a referral to a behavioral health specialist. As this specialist works in the same location as the primary care provider, when the individual returns for a follow-up appointment with the provider, they can also be scheduled to meet with the behavioral health specialist. Or, if they prefer, they can do a separate phone or telehealth appointment.

By addressing both the medical condition and the underlying mental health issue, the individual can better control their hypertension and improve their overall health.

Get the Behavioral Care You Need

Mental health is vital to overall well-being, and there’s no shame in talking openly about mental health or in seeking the care you need.

Coplin Health Systems is here to support your journey. Our Behavioral Health Services are available to anyone, at any age, regardless of your primary care provider.

Contact any of our locations to learn more.