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MINUTES-Final <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />January 25, 2017 <br />S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agenda & Abstracts\2017 Agenda & Abstracts/ January Page 4 <br /> Increase client access to and utilization of behavioral and mental health services. <br /> Improve patient health outcomes by integrating behavioral and mental health services as <br />part of OCHD clinical services. <br /> <br />Conditions and Issues Addressed <br /> Mental health conditions including psychotic disorders, personality disorders and <br />eating disorders. <br /> Substance abuse. <br /> Anxiety and depression. <br /> Children with family stress, child abuse/neglect, learning disabilities/developmental <br />delay and trauma. <br /> Medication adherence and healthy goal setting. <br /> <br /> Medical Provider feedback <br /> Providing mental health services to marginalized patients. <br /> Overcoming barriers such as cost, transportation and fear. <br /> Improving health and vitality of patients. <br /> <br />They also identified four next steps. <br />1. Initiate internal work group. <br />2. Introduce universal screening of all patients for depression and substance use. <br />3. Develop standard clinical pathways for suicidality, depression, and substance use. <br />4. Collaborate with community partners to strengthen ties and work collectively to meet the <br />health needs of marginalized members of our society. <br /> <br />The BOH members had questions that were answered by Ms. Kyes and Dr. Mulholland. <br /> <br />E. Mental Health Survey - Report <br /> <br />Sabrina Willard, a UNC School of Government MPA Intern, along with Rebecca Crawford, <br />presented an assessment of Orange County mental health and substance abuse services. Ms. <br />Willard reviewed UNC Emergency Room data, interviewed key stakeholders, surveyed <br />providers and community advocates, and held focus groups to 1) determine the barriers to <br />mental health care in Orange County for residents 0-25 years old and then 2) create an action <br />plan for prioritizing needs and meeting them. <br /> <br />According to youth hospitalization records from 2009-2015, an 18 to 24% increase in ages 0-25 <br />mental health visits as a proportion of all mental health visits. There was also an increase 27- <br />31% increase in mental health visits due to psychoactive substance abuse. The most common <br />barriers for those ages 0-25 that need mental health and/or substance abuse treatments <br />services were affordability and accessibility. Affordability barriers included many low-income <br />residents with no insurance, inadequate insurance coverage or high deductibles. Accessibility <br />barriers included citizenship status, language/cultural and location. <br /> <br />On January 17th, the health department hosted 39 survey participants to strategize two <br />overarching priorities for improving the mental health system in FY 2017-18. The participants <br />were a makeup of educators, citizen activists, mental health providers, etc. The participants <br />decided on these two priorities: <br /> <br /> Restore funding for early intervention care from birth to age 5.