Access to Mental Health Services Workshop: Bridging the Gap between Incidence and Treatment Workgroup 1 Effective Communication

Strategies between Agencies to Improve Mental Health Care Access and Treatment

Workgroup Objectives: 1. Identify strategies for improved communication between agencies to enhance patient access to care 2. Identify common causes of conflict that prohibit access to care 3. Recognize conflicting priorities within a work team 4. Use productive strategies to resolve conflict

Workgroup Scenario: As professional members of a small community, it has been identified that Dr. X from clinic Y is not addressing the mental health needs of patients at the clinic and that many patients are not being introduced into the Mental Health care system at this point of primary access. In fact, Dr. X seems to not believe that Mental Health services are a priority for his clinic patients. However, in contrast to Dr. Xs viewpoint, many of his patients are showing up in the local Emergency room with issues of severe anxiety, depression and even attempted suicide. How can the community develop strategic ways to communicate with Dr. X and help him gain insight into referring patients who are in need of mental health services and do so without offending Dr. Xs decisions. What are strategies to avoid conflict with him and clinic Y?