September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), this is a time to raise awareness and advocate for improved mental healthcare nationwide. NAMI strives to ensure individuals, families, and anyone struggling have the necessary information and resources to seek care. Too often suicide is considered a stigmatized topic, leading to a lack of discussion regarding the necessary means to navigate a mental health crisis.
Now more than ever, suicide is proven to be a primary cause for death. Between 1999 and 2019, suicide rates increased 33% and are only projected to worsen. Suicide remains a public health issue, but NAMI is striving to spread hope for a better future. Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is a devoted time for a safe, inclusive environment to have conversations about mental health conditions. Addressing mental health conditions and concerns is one of its main priorities, and NAMI recognizes the growing population suffering from mental health conditions and provides a variety of resources for those in a crisis.
To address any growing issues effectively, NAMI provides a crisis guide titled “Navigating a Mental Health Crisis: A NAMI Resource Guide for Those Experiencing a Mental Health Emergency," as well as a toolkit here. The guide and toolkit outline warning signs, available resources, and potentially life-saving information for those in need.
To learn more about National Suicide Prevention Month please visit:
- https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Suicide-Prevention-Awareness-Month
- https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/promote-national-suicide-prevention-month/
BCBSRI offers the following mental health programs for members:
Urgent access appointments: Child and Family Psychiatry offers urgent psychiatric evaluations and ongoing treatment administered by a child and adolescent psychiatrist. If a BCBSRI patient needs an urgent appointment, please call Child and Family Psychiatry and indicate you are looking for a BCBSRI urgent appointment. The practice will follow up with the patient to schedule the appointment and continue to provide treatment services for the patient as clinically indicated.
For more information please call (401) 572-3313 or contact BCBSRI behavioral health case management at 1-800-274-2958.
Child and Family Intensive Services (CFIT): CFIT is a team approach to providing developmentally appropriate services for teens and their families in the community. Services are provided to engage clients and their families by improving level of functioning, promoting healthy lifestyles, and teaching community integration skills.
Participating providers include:
- The Providence Center
- Community Care Alliance
- Family Services of Rhode Island
- Gateway Healthcare
- East Bay Community Action Program
- Thrive Behavioral Health
Contact BCBSRI for referral information at 1-800-274-2958.
Bradley Hospital Mindful Teen: The Mindful Teen Program provides all components of DBT treatment for adolescents (individual and family therapy, multifamily skills training, phone coaching, and clinician participation in a DBT consultation team) in an outpatient setting. This program serves adolescents with suicidality and/or NSSI who are either stepping down from or are at risk of being admitted to a higher level of care (such as inpatient, partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient). The Mindful Teen program is designed to provide adolescents with the necessary skills to manage their emotions, tolerate distress, and manage interpersonal stressors more effectively, while at the same time allowing them opportunities to practice and generalize these skills in their lives outside of treatment. Such opportunities for skills practice and generalization over an extended period of time are vital for preventing further high-risk behaviors and subsequent admissions to higher levels of care, due to adolescents lacking the skills they need to manage their day-to-day lives safely and effectively.
For more information please call (401) 432-1081 or contact BCBSRI behavioral health case management at 1-800-274-2958.
Be Collaborative Care, Inc. eating disorder treatment: Be Collaborative Care offers services for members with eating disorders by working with individuals to customize a treatment plan that optimally suits their recovery. The program uses comprehensive treatment and evidence-based approaches throughout treatment. The services include intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), psychotherapy, nutrition, outpatient groups, and family support. The IOP is a supported recovery program for individuals 18 years of age and older with anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder, compulsive over exercise, and ARFID.
For more information please call (401) 262-0841, visit www.becollaborativecare.com, or contact BCBSRI behavioral health case management at 1-800-274-2958.
HealthPath: HealthPath is a home and community-based service for adults offered through Butler Hospital. HealthPath is designed to provide BCBSRI commercial members with comprehensive behavioral health services. The program offers a multidisciplinary team approach including psychiatry, nursing, independently licensed clinicians, peer support specialists, and substance abuse specialists who provide office, home, and community-based services based on members’ identified needs. The services are intended to assist members struggling with behavioral health conditions in reaching their highest level of functioning through a coordinated and individualized treatment approach.
For more information please call (401) 415-8868 or contact BCBSRI behavioral health case management at 1-800-274-2958.
BH Link: BH Link provides BCBSRI members with a 24/7 clinical triage line to connect people to care and resources during a crisis. This is a 24/7 community-based walk-in facility that connects people with immediate behavioral health services and recovery supports.
Please call (401) 414-LINK for 24/7 assistance in-person or by phone.
Kids’ Link RI: Kid’s Link RI provides care for children and youth in need of mental health services. Kids’ Link provides a 24/7 clinical triage line to connect children and youth to care and resources during a crisis.
For more information please call 1-855-543-5465 for 24/7 assistance via phone or contact BCBSRI behavioral health case management at 1-800-274-2958.
September is National Recovery Month B
September is National Recovery Month. Founded in 1989 and launched by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), National Recovery Month celebrates those living in recovery, while recognizing workers who make it all possible. SAMSHA promotes evidence-based treatments and behavioral health resources to encourage and celebrate the process of recovery. With events hosted all month long, such as webinars, recovery fest, peer support groups, and many other opportunities, SAMSHA ensures the success of recovery does not go unnoticed.
This year’s theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: It’s Worth It." The message is to remind those struggling with mental or substance use disorders that although recovery may be intimidating, the journey is possible and valuable.
Increased awareness and support services are necessary to those fighting with substance use or mental disorders. National Recovery Month emphasizes that living life in recovery is not only a major success, but also possible for any individual regardless of their differing experiences.
SAMSHA provides a toolkit here which has a surplus of information regarding the motives and resources behind National Recovery Month.
To learn more about National Recovery month please visit:
BCBSRI offers the following programs for members struggling with substance use disorder:
Aware Recovery in-home substance use disorder treatment: With the ability to receive treatment services in the comfort of the member’s home, Aware Recovery provides effective medically integrated substance use disorder treatment. Aware creates an individualized recovery process by offering both virtual and in-home visits, while also including the family in the treatment process. The member is provided with regular family sessions and wellness consultations with a licensed family system therapist to ensure an inclusive, constructive road to recovery.
For more information on Aware Recovery, click here, call (401) 232-4166, or contact BCBSRI behavioral health case management at 1-800-274-2958.
Child and Family Intensive Services (CFIT): CFIT is a team approach to providing developmentally appropriate services for teens and their families in the community. Services are provided to engage clients and their families by improving level of functioning, promoting healthy lifestyles, and teaching community integration skills.
Participating providers include:
- The Providence Center
- Community Care Alliance
- Family Services of Rhode Island
- Gateway Healthcare
- East Bay Community Action Program
- Thrive Behavioral Health
Contact BCBSRI for referral information at 1-800-274-2958.
HealthPath: HealthPath is a home and community-based service for adults offered through Butler Hospital. HealthPath is designed to provide BCBSRI commercial members with comprehensive behavioral health services. The program offers a multidisciplinary team approach including psychiatry, nursing, independently licensed clinicians, peer support specialists, and substance abuse specialists who provide office, home, and community-based services based on members’ identified needs. The services are intended to assist members struggling with behavioral health conditions in reaching their highest level of functioning through a coordinated and individualized treatment approach.
For more information please call (401) 415-8868 or contact BCBSRI behavioral health case management at 1-800-274-2958.
Bradley Hospital Mindful Teen: The Mindful Teen Program provides all components of DBT treatment for adolescents (individual and family therapy, multifamily skills training, phone coaching, and clinician participation in a DBT consultation team) in an outpatient setting. This program serves adolescents with suicidality and/or NSSI who are either stepping down from or are at risk of being admitted to a higher level of care (such as inpatient, partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient). The Mindful Teen program is designed to provide adolescents with the necessary skills to manage their emotions, tolerate distress, and manage interpersonal stressors more effectively, while at the same time allowing them opportunities to practice and generalize these skills in their lives outside of treatment. Such opportunities for skills practice and generalization over an extended period of time are vital for preventing further high-risk behaviors and subsequent admissions to higher levels of care, due to adolescents lacking the skills they need to manage their day-to-day lives safely and effectively.
For more information please call (401) 432-1081 or contact BCBSRI behavioral health case management at 1-800-274-2958.
Peer Recovery: BCBSRI provides peer recovery services to commercial and Medicare Advantage members through several providers. This program is an opportunity for members with substance use disorders to work with a peer recovery coach. Peer recovery coaching is a SAMHSA-recognized tool that facilitates recovery and reduces healthcare costs. Peer recovery coaches are individuals in recovery themselves who have been through extensive training to provide support to their peers.
At this time, services are offered by Anchor Recovery, The Providence Center, Butler Hospital (Transitional Outpatient Program), East Bay Community Action Program, Fellowship Health Resources, Galilee Mission, Northeast Behavioral Associates, Thundermist Health Center, Trinity Healthy Living, and Wood River.
To learn more about Peer Recovery, please contact BCBSRI behavioral health case management at 1-800-274-2958.
CODAC MAT: For members suffering from an opioid use disorder, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) provides an outpatient model of intensive services for recovery. With MAT, counseling, and care management services, this program provides the services necessary for a road to recovery.
For more information on CODAC MAT, please call (401) 490-0716 or contact BCBSRI behavioral health case management at 1-800-274-2958.
BH Link: BH Link provides BCBSRI members with a 24/7 clinical triage line to connect people to care and resources during a crisis. This is a 24/7 community-based walk-in facility that connects people with immediate behavioral health services and recovery supports.
Please call (401) 414-LINK for 24/7 assistance in-person or by phone.