Mental Health Systems Integration

The provided assignment content discusses the importance of integrating mental health services into primary care settings. The articles by Ader et al. (2015) and Jolly et al. (2016) highlight the need to improve and expand medical, behavioral, and community models of mental health systems to provide high-quality, accessible, and efficient healthcare. The authors argue that this integration can lead to better treatment outcomes for patients with chronic mental health conditions, regardless of age group.

Running Head: MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS
6-2 Annotated Bibliography: Mental Health Systems
Rabiatu S. Alowonle
Prof. Pamela J. Edwards, M.A.
02/12/2017

Ader, J., Stille, C. J., Keller, D., Miller, B. F., Barr, M. S., & Perrin, J. M. (2015). The
medical home and integrated behavioral health: Advancing the policy
agenda. Pediatrics, 135(5), 909-917.
Summary
The authors and researchers of this article are expressing their views on the need to expand and
improve medical, behavioral, and community models of the mental health system to promote the
well-being of all Americans by delivering them high-quality, accessible and efficient health care.
To promote the integration of primary care and behavioral health, an attempt is made by these
fellow researchers to aid members of the integrated care team to excel behavioral health of
people by developing population-based measures to evaluate integration.
Evaluation and analysis of the article
For assessing the integration of primary care and behavioral health, it is necessary to find out
disease-specific treatments that cure depression treatment in well-defined, specific populations
for older adults. The critique associated with the approach is that although the condition of a
mental health system is better in the community health service, yet it has to go a long step ahead
to become an advanced one. Thus, it is recommended that to eliminate behavioral carve-outs,
attention is needed towards improving the population-level behavioral health of chronic mental
patients, irrespective of age groups with the help of community services.
Jolly, J. B., Fluet, N. R., Reis, M. D., Stern, C. H., Thompson, A. W., & Jolly, G. A. (2016).
Review of behavioral health integration in primary care at Baylor Scott and White
Healthcare, Central Region. Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center), 29(2), 131.
Summary
The authors and researchers of this article are discussing the advantage and disadvantage of
medical, behavioral, and community models of the mental health system. The delivery of health
care to patients and their families, including financial pressures are forces that require a
transformation in primary healthcare service. To examine the role of management in the
treatment of mental health problems, researchers have conducted a meta-analysis of 33 clinical
trials from 145 articles on the integration of behavioral health and primary care in the treatment
of depression.
Evaluation and analysis of the article
To evaluate the findings of researchers at Baylor Scott & White Central Region, a conclusion is
drawn that several studies conducted on clinicians and caregivers were found to be positive and
their treatment response to chronic mental patients was good in every aspect. It is highly
recommended to caregivers of the community service to deliver effective care management to

mental patients’. The critique associated with the medical, behavioral, and community models of
the mental health system is that although collaborative efforts of clinicians are promising, yet
more expensive. To sum up, there is a need for research to assess and guide program changes in
order to be more clinically and cost-effective.