Preventive Behavioral Health Programs |
Published: October, 2001
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PBH is committed to helping prevent problems before they happen. PBH prevention programs are educational and offer personalized assistance to help your patients reach their goals. Preventive behavioral health programs are designed to prevent or detect the incidence, emergence or worsening of a behavioral health disorder. They are developed based on the demographic, cultural, clinical and risk characteristics of the population. Practitioners and consumers participate in the program design. Such a broad-based approach is essential, not only for the development of relevant programs, but also for building consensus and support. Finally, PBH provides a framework for continuous monitoring and evaluation of all aspects of its preventive behavioral health programs. Current programs are summarized below:
Depression Screening Program
Depression can be mild or prevent people from participating in normal daily activities and creating stress and unhappiness. PBH offers the Depression Screening Program to assist members in identifying their need for help through anonymous, automated telephonic depression screening. The screening is offered in English and Spanish languages. Callers receive feedback about their symptoms immediately, and may choose to have their call transferred to a PBH Customer Service Associate for assistance. PBH also offers an anonymous depression screening on the Web at http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/screening/. Use the keyword "PBHDep." Upon completing the screening, members may choose to call PBH Customer Service for a mental health referral, and are encouraged to discuss the results of the depression screening with a behavioral health practitioner. You may also contact your area's PBH Customer Service Center for more information about this program.
Healthy Lifestyles ProgramThe Healthy Lifestyles Program provides information and useful tools to help PBH members and their family members cope with the stress of everyday life. Members receive an educational packet that includes:
- 5 Smart Steps To Less Stress
– a personal guide to preventing stress
- It’s OK to Walk Away
– for adolescents, steps for coping with bullies and preventing violence
- About Alcohol
– facts and information for healthy lifestyle choices
- Stress Buster
calendar
- Conflict Resolution
brochure
- Focus on Leisure
pamphlet
There is a Spanish-language version of the educational packet available. You may contact your area's PBH Customer Service Center for more information about this program.
Postpartum Depression Screening
Having a baby can be one of the happiest and biggest events in a woman’s life. While life with a new baby can be thrilling and rewarding, it can also be difficult and stressful at times. Many physical and emotional changes can happen while a woman is pregnant and after she gives birth. Many women can become depressed. Postpartum Depression (PPD) can occur a few days or even a few months after childbirth. While PPD is a serious medical illness, it can be treated with counseling and/or medication. PBH works with medical health plans to provide women with help for PPD – this includes educational information, resources and support. PBH is reaching out to women who have recently given birth by mailing them a Postpartum Depression Kit. The brochure enclosed in the kit includes a questionnaire that detects signs of PPD. When identifying symptoms associated with PPD, members are urged to discuss the results with their health care providers, and to contact PBH Customer Service for assistance in obtaining a referral to a behavioral health practitioner, if needed.
Click here to download and print the PPD brochure.
Southwest Region Only:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Depression
Clinical depression is common among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When depressed, persons with COPD may experience difficulty caring for their physical health. For members of PacifiCare of Oklahoma and PacifiCare of Texas, PBH works with the health plans to help members with COPD and depression. Our goal is to identify depression early, lowering the chance that depression will affect one’s physical health. We also offer information and support to members with COPD, their families and their primary care providers. For more information on this program, please contact the PBH Southwest Region Customer Service Center.
Special Needs of Seniors
Older persons are at greater risk than the general population for behavioral health problems that change their quality of life. PBH Special Needs of Seniors program is offered to PacifiCare’s Secure Horizons members in Colorado who may have behavioral health problems and who have stated they want to change. Our goal is to help seniors keep good health, a high level of independence, and enjoy a more hopeful, happy life. For more information on this program, please contact the PBH Southwest Region Customer Service Center.
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