How Patient Engagement Helps in Behavioral Health Condition?

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Behavioral health problems rank high on the list of conditions that cause disability in the United States and they extract high costs from families as well as publicly funded health systems. Mental health problems such as substance abuse impacts not only the individual negatively, but also their families and communities.

Substance abuse and alcoholism over a period of time can result in chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. But there is no single solution or easy treatment that works for all. Treatment for addictions vary depending on the type of drug as well as the personality of the patient. Early interventions increase the chances of full recovery. But what is most important or recovery is the patient’s involvement and cooperation. Effective patient engagement has a significant impact on the treatment of behavioral health disorders.

• Patient Engagement Improves Post-Discharge Treatment Adherence

Treatment for behavioral health, especially substance abuse requires long-term treatment, especially to ensure there is no relapse. Medication adherence during this time is of critical importance. Patients may often follow treatment while in a medical institution, but post-discharge treatment adherence usually poses a problem for many. In general, a minimum of 3 months of treatment is required to stop drug usage or atleast reduce their usage to a significant extent.

Patient management and communication software can be used to encourage patients for support groups and treatments, to monitor their employment or education, to gain insights into their relapse risks, or to provide remote recovery support via messaging or video.

• Patient Engagement Enables Access To Prevention Services

When patients are engaged in their healthcare treatment decisions, they tend to become healthier with better outcomes. Better patient engagement creates more trust between patients and their health care providers. This trust is a key factor for an effective patient provider communication.

To decrease the impact of behavioral health conditions in American communities it is essential to promote mental health in people and prevent substance use disorders among them. Patients can be engaged, from the time they check-in, with relevant and effective educational content regarding mental health to increase their knowledge on the subject.

• Patient Engagement Increases Chances Of Early Intervention

There is a social stigma associated with behavioral illnesses. Rather than denying or ignoring mental illnesses and allowing it to become a bigger problem, behavioral health services should aim to spread awareness of this issue and encourage people to come forward. Early intervention after the very first instance of the mental disorder, can make a significant impact towards its recovery. For effectively improving clinical and functional outcomes of behavioral health issues including substance abuse, coordinated and specialized care should be offered during or immediately after the first episode.

Conclusion

Addictions are complex, though treatable diseases that impact brain function and behavior. Since substance abuse can alter the brain structure itself, the resulting physical and behavioral changes may persist long after the drug use has been stopped. Even after extended periods of abstinence drug abusers are at risk for relapse. For effective treatment and recovery from substance abuse, patient engagement and substance abuse engagement is a must. The treatment needs to be suitable to the patient's age, gender, ethnicity, and culture. Rather than focusing on just the individual's drug abuse, the treatment should attend to his/her multiple needs.

Patient engagement software also improves patient-provider communication and helps identify potential behavioral health problems before they intensify and implement preventive measures accordingly. Imparting awareness, knowledge, and skills to handle such behavioral health conditions empower the patients to better follow the prescribed treatments and remain on a positive recovery path.