Behavioral Health is a priority at CHCs

Washington’s 28 community health centers (CHCs) make sure everyone has access to quality, affordable whole–person care. This includes medical and dental health as well as behavioral health. 

What is behavioral health? The American Medical Association states that “behavioral health generally refers to mental health and substance use disorders, life stressors and crises, and stress-related physical symptoms. Behavioral health care refers to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of those conditions.” A person’s behavioral health and physical health are directly connected to each other.

Community health centers across the state offer behavioral health care in addition to primary care and dentistry. CHC’s behavioral health services include:

• One-on-one therapy and group therapy

• Substance use disorder counseling

• Integrated, holistic care with your primary care

• Psychiatric evaluations and medication management

• Coordination with community partners to obtain support services

Washington’s community health centers have unique ways to support the behavioral health needs of their patients.

• At Community Health Center of Snohomish, behavioral health specialists work with primary care providers to create a care plan designed for both the patient’s mind and body.

• Unity Care NW offers a supportive 24-hour behavioral health line to call if someone is experiencing an acute crisis situation.

• Behavioral health services at Sea Mar include options like 12-step meetings, nutrition classes, HIV/AIDS education, and smoking cessation.

• ICHS offers school-based behavioral health services to students right on their school’s campus.

• Columbia Valley Community Health offers a number of specific behavioral health treatment areas, including reproductive mental health.

One health center patient described the critical importance of behavioral health services at her clinic when she wrote, “As a disabled person this safety net keeps me alive! I rely on my behavioral and physical care team to help maintain my care and medications. Without them I wouldn’t be able to live.” 

Help us protect life-saving behavioral health services. Participate in our health policy advocacy! https://www.savehealthcareinwa.org/advocacy-tools/