WBT Flipbooks

4 TFAH • WBT • PaininTheNation.org How Healthcare Systems Can Help Recognizing that deaths of despair are caused by a confluence of factors that contribute to adverse health and underlying pain, the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and Well Being Trust (WBT) have called for a national strategy to improve resilience. 20 As hospitals and health systems work with patients, providers and communities to address alcohol, drug and behavioral health conditions, it is critical to support healthcare system efforts to prioritize prevention and adopt a "whole health" approach. Organizations that provide healthcare—including hospitals, outpatient and long-term care facilities, community health centers, and other healthcare providers (referred to in this brief collectively as "healthcare systems")—have efforts underway to modernize behavioral health services, improve pain treatment and management practices, limit the supply of opioids, raise awareness of the risk of addiction, reduce stigma, and partner with the broader community on improving the health and well-being of Americans. Prioritizing Prevention Investing in efforts to prevent patients from misusing substances or attempting suicide can be cost-effective and save lives. 21,22,23 Healthcare systems that more fully integrate prevention efforts into their organizations can help stem the increase in despair deaths. Promising practices include: screening for mental health or substance misuse risks, counseling patients and families to safely store lethal means, implementing take back days, and expanding the availability and use of naloxone. 1. Screening for substance misuse, suicide and mental health issues Regularly screening patients for substance use disorders and mental health issues is a critical step healthcare systems are taking. Routine screening for substance misuse is one of the National Principles of Care for Substance Use Disorder Treatment issued by the Substance Use Treatment Task Force (see box on page 13). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommends the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) method, which involves: l Screening patients on a regular basis using an age-appropriate questionnaire; l Briefly intervening with patients who present risk factors by providing feedback about unhealthy behaviors and educating them about the risks involved with substance misuse; and l Referring for treatment those patients who need further assessment and ser vices. 24

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