Integrated behavioral health as a vehicle for improved mental health care

Integrated behavioral health care is an umbrella term that describes methods of delivering behavioral health services in a familiar medical setting to facilitate patient access to care and increase utilization by improving convenience, reducing weight times, and reducing the stigma of seeking mental health care. There are a number of models of integrated care, with the collaborative care and primary care behavioral health models being the most well-known and evidence-supported (Kallenberg & Sieber, 2024; Reiter et al., 2018; Yonek et al., 2020). Currently, integrated behavioral health exists in multiple forms in Rhode Island. In this article we will describe the current landscape and future directions of integrated behavioral health (IBH) at Hasbro Children's Pediatric Primary Care Clinic, including the team makeup, goals, and common reasons for consultation. Our aim is to help community providers, both pediatric and behavioral health providers better understand the IBH team and describe the types of services provided.