Behavioral Health
Welcome!
MercyCare Health Plans provides behavioral health services for the evaluation and treatment of mental health disorders and addiction (alcohol and drug or substance abuse) disorders. Services are available for adults and children, and you may be seen individually or as a family.
Mental health and addiction treatment services are available to you and your family depending on the plan you selected and your certificate of coverage.
As a first step, you may wish to make an appointment with your primary care physician to discuss your concerns and your symptoms.
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Primary care physicians treat many mental health and substance abuse disorders. Your primary physician is knowledgeable about these disorders.
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Medical problems could be a possible cause of your symptoms and your primary care physician can evaluate possible medical causes for your symptoms. Your primary physician may order test or recommend further evaluation of your symptoms.
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Your primary care physician may already know you and your family and you may be comfortable discussing your symptoms with your physician.
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Many mental health and addiction problems have a biological basis (possible imbalance of proteins in certain areas of the brain).
Or, you could make an appointment directly with a specialist (counselor, therapist, addictions therapist, or psychologist). These specialists have special training to evaluate and treat mental health and substance abuse disorders.
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Behavioral health specialists who evaluate and treat adults and children, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, licensed professional counselors, and addiction counselors are available to you.
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Specialists in mental health and addictions provide screening, intake, assessment and treatment planning, and treatments may include one to one talk therapy or group therapy.
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With your permission, these specialists will communicate with your primary care physician about your evaluation and the care you need.
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Your mental health or substance abuse specialist and primary care physician can provide you with a coordinated approach to your care.
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Specialists in mental health and substance abuse are knowledgeable about causes of mental health disorders that have a biological basis (possible imbalance or proteins in certain areas of the brain).
Addictions Psychiatry- An addictions psychiatrist is a medical doctor who is trained in psychiatry and who has had specialized training and practice in addictions disorders. Assessment and medication treatment for alcohol and substance abuse disorders as well as talk therapy may also be provided.
Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber- A nurse specialist who assesses behavioral health disorders and prescribes medication for behavioral health disorders.
Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor- a therapist who does assessment and treatment of addiction disorders, in an individual or group setting.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker- a therapist who does talk therapy or behavior therapy in an individual or group setting.
Licensed Professional Counselor- a therapist who does talk therapy or behavior therapy in an individual or group setting.
Psychiatry- A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who provides assessment and prescribes medication for behavioral health disorders. Talk therapy may also be provided.
Psychology- A PhD doctoral level professional who does talk therapy or behavior therapy in an individual or group setting, and who may do specialized individual psychological evaluation and testing.
Substance Abuse Counselor- a therapist who treats addiction disorders, in an individual or group setting.
Prior to making an appointment, you may wish to check the on-line provider directory for a listing of specialists (network providers) in your area. If you are choosing a provider, or if your physician has suggested a provider to you, you will find the phone number and location of a provider in the directory.
When you call the mental health clinic the receptionist will schedule an assessment appointment for you.
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At your first assessment appointment your provider will talk with you and gather information about your symptoms and your situation.
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Your provider will determine what services are best for you, and if you need counseling, often referred to as "talk therapy".
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You may be asked to see a counselor or therapist prior to seeing a psychiatrist (the specialist that prescribes medication). Counseling or therapy is considered an important part of treatment of behavioral health or addictions disorders.
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Your provider may also recommend further evaluation appointments, or an appointment with the psychiatrist, depending on your individual needs.
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Your provider may refer you to other resources or professionals, depending on your symptoms and your situation.
If you or your family member is suicidal, homicidal, or experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest urgent care or emergency room.
If you have questions about your mental health or addictions assessment, or treatment, please call your provider who is helping you.
Call Customer Service at MercyCare Health Plans with Questions
If you have any questions about prior authorization for services, specialists available (network providers), how to call the providers to make an appointment, or the terms of your certificate of coverage, please call MercyCare Health Plans Customer Service at 1-800-895-2421.
Depression is a common mental health disorder that can be treated by primary care physicians or mental health specialists. People with depression often feel sad, down, and blue, and they may have loss of interest in joyful activities, low energy, sleep problems, poor concentration, feelings of excessive guilt or self-blame, and they may experience thoughts about death or suicide. Thoughts about death or suicide require an emergency evaluation. Symptoms of depression must be evaluated by your primary care physician or a behavioral health specialist. Your provider may screen for depression and assess your symptoms. Talk therapy and medication are proven to help symptoms of depression. Generally, after your physician or psychiatrist prescribes medication for depression, three follow-up appointments occur within the first three months of treatment, and you usually stay on medication six to nine months, if it is the first time you have experienced depression.
Depression Screen (PHQ-9)
Adults may screen themselves for depression using a common screening tool. This tool is called the PHQ-9. You may take the answers to this depression screening to your primary care physician or to your behavioral health specialist. Your provider will discuss the results of this screening with you. Or, your physician or mental health provider or addictions provider may give you the screen for depression at your first visit. If your score is 5 or greater, you may need further evaluation to determine if you have depression. Periodically, your physician or provider may have you take the screen again to see if the medication you are taking is having positive results.
Women who deliver babies may be at risk for developing postpartum depression if they have a history of depression, a previous history of postpartum depression, or a family member that has experienced postpartum depression. A woman can develop postpartum depression even if she hasn't had depression prior to the pregnancy or delivery. Postpartum depression symptoms include blue mood and sadness, poor concentration, lack of interest in the baby or mothering, low energy or an inability to feel rested, fatigue, excessive guilt, appetite or weight changes, or thoughts of death or suicidal thoughts. Obsessive worries about the baby or excessive concerns about harm coming to the baby may be present. Hearing voices, loss of touch with reality or hearing voices and having psychotic thoughts require emergency evaluation. Any thoughts of death or suicide also require emergency evaluation. Postpartum depression is more than the "baby blues" and it is treatable by therapy and/or medications. Mothers who are pregnant or who are in the post partum months can screen themselves for depression using the PHQ-9, a common self-screening tool used to evaluate the symptoms of depression.
Resources for Postpartum Mood Disorders
Many people have alcohol or drug abuse problems. These problems are frequently called addiction disorders. Addiction disorders are treatable, and many new treatments are available for alcohol and other drug use disorders. Your primary care physician or your behavioral health specialist can screen you for the presence of these disorders. If you take these screens on-line, you can take the information to your health care provider to discuss the results of the screen and to see if any further screening is necessary and to discuss treatment options. Outpatient support groups, counseling, day programs, and more intensive treatments may be available to you. At your first assessment appointment, it can be determined which treatment will best suit your individual needs.
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Many children and adults suffer from this disorder of attention, focus, concentration and many may also have hyperactivity. Your pediatrician or primary care physician may screen you or your child for this disorder or they may refer you to a behavioral health specialist for an evaluation. Many sources of helpful information about this common disorder are available to you on-line. Your treating provider will provide you with an assessment, and use information from your child's school to determine if the disorder is present. Your provider can also make treatment recommendations that best suit your individual needs. Generally, if you are treated with an ADHD medication, follow-up includes a visit to your prescribing provider within 30 days and two follow-up visits after that 30 day period, within 9 months.
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Depression Screening Tool:
 PHQ-9
Alcohol Screening Tools:
 CAGE-AID
AUDIT
ADHD Toolkit
 www.nichq.org/adhd.html
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