Your physical, mental and emotional health all deserve equal attention. With integrated behavioral health available at Methodist Medical Group – Primary Care throughout Memphis and the Mid-South, you can access comprehensive care for your physical and mental health all in one place.
What Is Integrated Behavioral Health?
Integrated behavioral health allows our primary care providers to work closely with behavioral health specialists to address all aspects of your health.
We know physical and mental health are closely connected. For example, stress can worsen physical pain and contribute to chronic health conditions, including heart disease and digestive issues. At the same time, chronic health conditions can lead to depression and anxiety.
Integrating behavioral healthcare with your medical care enables a more coordinated approach to address these connections. When your primary care provider notices signs of stress or other negative emotions impacting your health, they can quickly connect you with a behavioral health specialist right there in the office or coordinate a virtual visit for you with a member of our integrated behavioral health team from the comfort of your own home.
More than just convenience, integrated behavioral health is about seamless, collaborative care where your entire care team works together to address your complete well-being.
Behavioral Health Consultants
Within our Methodist Medical Group Primary Care clinics, our primary care providers work closely with behavioral health consultants (BHCs), who deliver timely, evidence-based care to diagnose and treat mental illness and address any behavioral concerns that may impact your overall health.
BHCs are trained psychologists, licensed professional counselors or licensed clinical social workers and are integral members of your primary care team. They offer a variety of services to support your mental health and wellness, including:
- Diagnosis and treatment of behavioral health conditions, including anxiety, depression and substance use
- Help creating a healthier lifestyle, including smoking cessation and weight loss
- Help navigating the emotional demands of a chronic condition
- Strategies for coping with the responsibilities and challenges of caregiving
- Practical techniques and strategies to achieve more restful sleep
- Training in effective stress management skills and strategies for building resilience
- Assessment of cognitive concerns for early detection and support for memory loss, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and other issues
In addition to Primary Care, we have Behavioral Health Consultants working as a part of some of our specialty clinics, like Oncology and Sickle Cell, to help patients with unique health challenges navigate the mental health challenges that are often also present.
How Integrated Behavioral Health Works at Methodist Medical Group
When you see a primary care provider at Methodist Medical Group, accessing behavioral health services is easy. Each Methodist Medical Group – Primary Care office has a team of primary care and behavioral health specialists who can work with you in a variety of ways.
If you already have a Methodist Medical Group – Primary Care provider, you can call our Behavioral Health Patient Referral Coordinator at 901-567-7415 to schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with a BHC. You can also ask your provider to refer you to a BHC during one of your medical visits in the office.
Whether you are a new or existing patient, your provider may refer you to the office’s BHC if they notice mental health symptoms, such as anxiety or sleeping issues, or think you may benefit from behavioral health services for other reasons. For example, you may screen “positive” on a depression screening tool, or your doctor may notice that you aren’t taking medications as you should.
Your provider may refer you to a BHC if you express thoughts of self-harm.
In many cases, we can see you the same day you request an appointment to begin addressing your concern, especially if an in-person BHC is available in your medical provider’s office. If we cannot see you on the same day, we will work to connect you with a BHC at our next available appointment, either in-person or virtually, so you can quickly get the care you need.
BHCs typically meet with patients for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. If you need more specialized care for a mental health issue, your consultant may refer you to other Methodist providers, like members of our psychiatry team who can support you with medication or the Methodist Behavioral Health Center if you need inpatient treatment.
Every member of your behavioral health team works together to ensure you get the right care for your mental health.
Get Help Today!
Talk with your primary care provider about seeing one of our BHCs today, or call 901-567-7415 to schedule an appointment and get started getting the care you need. Need a primary care provider? Find one in our directory.
If you’re experiencing a behavioral health crisis, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which can be accessed 24/7, or go immediately to your nearest emergency room.