Since 1992, World Mental Health Day has been observed every year on October 10th. Created to raise international awareness of mental health, the day is intended to inspire individuals and communities around the world to take action and to foster lasting change in improving mental health for people of all backgrounds. As we recognize World Mental Health Day this October, it’s worth highlighting the ways ConcertoCare integrates care for its patients’ medical, behavioral and social needs.
ConcertoCare prioritizes delivering the right care—often including mental health care--at the right time based on each patient’s needs. Mr. V’s story is a powerful example of the ConcertoCare clinical model and how we support patients' mental well-being through an integrated model of care. Mr. V is 60 years old and works part time. Mr. V has multiple chronic conditions including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a lung disease that causes breathing problems by obstructing airflow. Additionally, Mr. V reports extreme anxiety, which often co-occurs with COPD. Because of ConcertoCare’s integrated care delivery model, Mr. V was referred to the behavioral health team for additional supportive services to better manage his complex health care needs. Mr. V met with a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for a behavioral health assessment. Through this assessment, Mr. V and the Clinical Social Worker identified a care plan that included identifying skills and techniques to help Mr. V better manage his anxiety. The Licensed Clinical Social Worker utilized principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), two forms of talk therapy that improve coping skills and navigation of difficult thoughts and feelings. After routine sessions with the ConcertoCare Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Mr. V now reports using coping skills such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation and has experienced firsthand just how taking care of one’s mind also takes care of one’s body. Simply keeping in mind the acronym PLEASE1 has served him and other patients to this end:
- Treat PhysicaL illness
- Eat healthy
- Avoid mood-altering drugs
- Sleep well
- Exercise
Mr. V has experienced improved quality of life by integrating his medical and behavioral care and developing coping skills to better manage his complex health care needs. He has noted improved overall functioning both at home and in his place of work.
The theme for World Mental Health Day 2024 is prioritizing mental health in the workplace. Mr. V’s story emphasizes not only workplace mental health, but also the power of behavioral health interventions to improve all aspects of health and wellbeing for our patients and colleagues alike. Our communities deserve nothing less than mental health care that is accessible, integrated, and holistic, and ConcertoCare is proud to serve its patients with world-class person-first care.
“You cannot serve from an empty vessel”- Eleanor Brownn2
1DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Second Edition, by Marsha M. Linehan. Copyright 2015 by Marsha M. Linehan
2Brownn, E. (2023). The Other Serenity Prayer: Meditations on Self-Kindness. United States: Heart Based Media.