October Behavioral Health Bulletin

Behavioral Health Bulletin

Issue 22, October 2023

Intersections of Disability and Behavioral Health

October marks Disability Awareness Month and we'd therefore like to take this opportunity to discuss some of the ways in which disability intersects behavioral health care.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) definition of disability encompasses a wide range of ailments: any physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. This means that behavioral health conditions can be disabilities in their own right, such as a depressive disorder that interferes with a person's ability to perform basic care tasks, as well as secondary diagnoses to other disabilities such as cancer, blindness, mobility impairments, or any other myriad conditions or injuries.

Considering the increased financial burden, physical discomfort, and social isolation that may accompany disabilities, it is perhaps unsurprising that adults with disabilities report mental distress at 5 times the rate of adults without disabilities.

This month we consider how we can better provide compassionate care to our patients with disabilities by recognizing the intersections of disability, physical, and mental health, and using person centered and inclusive language.

Learn about perinatal mood disorders

Lauren Blau, PhD will be speaking at our final Mind Matters meeting of the year on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. Attendees will learn how to identify and manage depression and other mood disorders that present during pregnancy, postpartum, or after a miscarriage.

If you have a case you'd like to share for consultation and support at this or a future Mind Matters meeting, please email Anitha Iyer, PhD, Course Director.

Remember that you can view recordings and slides of previous meetings on our websit e. Past meetings have covered treating depression and anxiety in primary care, substance use disorders, and more. Most recently we highlighted the 988 Lifeline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Person-centered and inclusive language matters

The United Nations' Disability-Inclusive Language Guidelines explains the importance of inclusive language and what that sounds like, offers clarification on commonly misunderstood terms, and gives concrete examples of ableist language versus inclusive, person-centered alternatives.

Mental health needs in people with visual impairments

This review article assesses mental health needs of people with blindness and vision loss. Around 20 million people in the US live with vision impairments, a number that will only increase as the population ages.

The review found increased rates of depression and anxiety in people with vision impairments. Vision loss impacts all parts of a person's life, and is one of the leading causes for loss of independence in older adults.

A new approach to behavioral health

On the Road to Resilience podcast, Grant Mitchell, MD, describes the new Mount Sinai Behavioral Health Center, a radical reimagination of how to deliver mental health care.

Dr. Mitchell stresses how the Center strives to be a comfortable and welcoming space for patients, erase the stigma of mental health care, and address all of the patient’s mental and physical health care needs.

Disability awareness and education around the health system

A Conversation with Quemuel Arroyo, Chief Accessibility Officer, MTA

Wednesday, October 18, Noon – 1:30 pm

Hybrid event: Corporate Services Center, Room 4-B.2

DEI Summit Breakout Session: Importance of Pathway Programs for People with Disabilities

Monday, October 23

Disability Etiquette and Awareness Educational Session

Presented by the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities

Tuesday, October 24, Noon – 1:30 pm

Screening tools and tips

October is also National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month. Annual screening with the PHQ-9 is a quick way to help identify patients who could benefit from further discussion and intervention. As you conclude your 2023 well visits be sure your patients have a completed PHQ-9 or alternative depression screen on file.

Watch the recording of our Mind Matters meeting on barriers to screening for depression for tips and best practices.

Shining a light on depression: a panel discussion with mental health experts

The Office of Wellbeing and Resilience and the Center for Stress, Resilience, and Personal Growth are hosting a panel discussion on Thursday, October 26 at noon.

Services are now available in American Sign Language (ASL) for deaf and hard of hearing callers

Users can click the "ASL Now" button on 988lifeline.org and follow the prompts. Direct dialing to 988 from a videophone will be available in the coming weeks, and in the meantime, ASL callers can call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) from their videophone to reach ASL services.

Read the press release to learn more.

Non-stigmatizing communication about mental health

It's no secret that there is high stigma surrounding mental health which can be incredibly harmful to people living with mental health conditions and interfere with their treatment and recovery.

The CDC offers a variety of provider resources on mental health literacy, including a CME course from the University of Texas at Austin on stigma-free communication about mental health.

Spanish language resources from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

NIMH has patient-friendly information about a variety of mental health topics in Spanish. Share this information with Spanish-speaking patients to help them understand any relevant topics or diagnoses.

Information to share with your patients: Seasonal Affective Disorder

Peruse the Mount Sinai Health Library for information to share with your patients. With over 100 psychiatry topics presented in patient-friendly language, the Health Library can be a valuable source for your patients to understand their diagnoses.

As we transition into the fall and winter, some patients may experience symptoms of depression. While depressive and other mood disorders can present at any time of year, Seasonal Affective Disorder co-occurs with the change in seasons, most commonly during the fall and winter.

Well-being and mental health resources for Mount Sinai Health System faculty, staff, students, and trainees

MSHS offers a variety of support services to all faculty, staff, students, and trainees. To learn more, view this flyer.

This flowchart highlights available options for therapy and medication management.

Use the eConsult Program for Help Addressing Your Mount Sinai Employee Patients’ Mental Health Needs

Are you seeing a Mount Sinai employee in need of behavioral health support? The Center for Stress, Resilience, and Personal Growth (CSRPG) has developed an eConsult request order in Epic specifically to assist providers treating our employees. You can use eConsult to request a phone consult with The Center's psychiatrist, Dr. Mary Christopher. Receive guidance on delivering mental health care to your patient within the primary care setting OR request that the patient be seen by the CSRPG for therapy and/or psychiatric care.

The eConsult order set can be accessed in Epic encounters through the "Orders" tab by entering "ECONSULT/REFERRAL TO FPA RESILIENCE CENTER".

For any questions, please email Dr. Mary Christopher at mary.christopher@mssm.edu.

P: 877-234-6667

F: 646-537-1481

E: MSHP@mountsinai.org

Provider Engagement Team