Patient Education
Who is on a Mental Health
Integration team?
Your team is based on your unique needs and
the resources in your community. The team may
include the following caregivers:
i n t e r m o u n t a i n h e a l t h c a re. o rg / m h i
LiVe Well — mind and body
Part of your care includes helping you live a
healthy lifestyle. Your MHI team will talk to you
about how healthy living can improve your mental
and physical health.
• You and your family: You’re the most important
team member. You work with your doctor to design
the best care plan, and you take an active role in
your own care. Getting better takes personal effort.
We’ll help you with the process.
• Your doctor: The team leader, who recommends
and explains a care plan, and then manages the
plan with the help of the team.
You can also take an active role in living a healthy
lifestyle, and Intermountain’s LiVe Well program
can help. It provides tools and tips to help you make
positive changes in your life. Here are some of the
ways LiVe Well can help:
• Eat Well. Regular, nutritious
eating helps prevent and
treat many different health
problems, like cancer,
diabetes, and obesity.
Making wise food choices
can improve your mood too.
• Care manager or health advocate: A nurse or
medical assistant who keeps in touch with you,
connects you with resources and care providers,
and helps resolve problems.
• Move More. When exercise
is part of your regular day,
you’ll have less anxiety and
depression, and you’ll be more alert.
• Psychiatrist or psychiatric APRN: A doctor or
nurse practitioner with special training in mental
health treatment who consults on medications and
complex emotional illnesses.
• Stress Less. You can’t entirely avoid stress, but
you have more control over it than you may think.
Learning to manage stress can help you.
• Mental health provider: A psychologist or social
worker who provides counseling and talk therapy.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): An
organization for people living with mental illness
and for their families. NAMI offers free information,
education, and support — including a mentor who
can help you learn to cope with your condition.*
• Sleep Well. Sleep is important. Not getting
enough of it can increase your risk of depression,
chronic disease, and weight gain.
Talk to your MHI team or visit
intermountainhealthcare.org/live-well
for tips, tools, and resources to help you
LiVe Well — mind and body.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
IN YOUR DOCTOR’S OFFICE
All team members communicate and work together.
MHI has received high satisfaction and confidence
ratings from patients, care providers, and clinic staff.
*Other community advocates may be available. Ask
your care manager for more information.
Mental Health
Integration
© 2008–2014 Intermountain Healthcare. All rights reserved.
Patient and Provider Publications 801-442-2963 MHI020- 02/14
How does Mental Health
Integration work?
Your doctor uses assessments to identify your
need for mental health treatment. You, your
doctor, and your team then work together to
design the best treatment plan for you. Your plan
balances your mental and your physical healthcare
needs to treat your whole health.
Services are provided by your doctor or another
MHI team member in your doctor’s office. Team
members communicate with each other to make
sure you’re getting the care you need.
Mind and body go hand in hand. Mental
health has a big effect on physical health — and
vice versa. Mental Health Integration (MHI) is an
approach to healthcare that focuses on both. One
team — led by your doctor — cares for your mental
and physical health needs. And it all happens right
in your doctor’s office.
The team knows you. They respect you, listen to
you, and communicate well to help you improve
your whole health.
Feel the difference. Our patients tell us they’re
more hopeful. They tell us they’re more confident
about all aspects of their care, including their own
ability to understand, cope with, and manage
their mental health issues. Our research tell us our
patients are healthier — mentally and physically.
I’m glad my regular
doctor is directing my
treatment — AND that
there’s an entire team
backing her up.
”
— Amy, Receiving treatment
for depression
Understanding how your
insurance can work for you
Treating mind and body together improves your
health — but they’re sometimes separated on
insurance plans. Each insurance company handles
these benefits a little differently, and payment isn’t
always guaranteed. We’ll help you understand
your coverage in any way we can.
What is Mental Health
Integration?
You know the team. Your doctor — someone
who knows you, your family, and all your healthcare
issues — leads the team to coordinate and direct
mental health services. Your doctor will invite other
caregivers to join the team as needed.
“
If mental health services aren’t covered by your
insurance, our team is still happy to help you. As with
other non-covered medical services, though, you’ll be
responsible for the payments. Here are some tips:
Almost everyone can benefit from
mental health services at some point.
Work problems, illnesses, relationships, and
family issues — we all face these in life.
They stress our ability to cope.
It’s not just about you — your
family plays an important role.
Mental health issues are often family issues, and all
families have them. In MHI, your family is part of
your care. Each family has their own style of dealing
with stress and other health problems. As part of
your care, we help you identify your family’s style
and understand how to work within it.
• BEFORE you see a mental health provider, call
your insurance company to find out what your
mental health benefits are.
• Ask about benefit limits. Some companies pay
for a specific time period or number of visits.
• Check on deductibles and “out of pocket”
limits. They can be different for mental health
services than for other kinds of medical care.
• Ask if there is anything you need to do
before getting started. Some companies
require you to contact them before mental
health benefits begin.
• If you have Medicaid, talk to your care
manager or Medicaid representative.
Medicaid patients have a different program for
mental health services­.
• Some employers have an Employee Assistance
Program (EAP) that provides some free mental
health services.