A behavioral health care system's public health approach to improving individual and community health

At this time in the US, behavioral health needs are widespread, with one in four adults and one in five children experiencing a mental health disorder, one in ten facing alcohol or drug abuse, and suicide the 11^th leading cause of death among adults and 3^rd among youth. The City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services (DBHIDS) uses a public health approach to improve behavioral health at a population level.  This approach represents a shift from a paradigm of care being solely focused on treating individuals with diagnosable behavioral health conditions to one that focuses on population health promotion, community wellness, and attention to the social determinants of health. This presentation provides an overview of the DBHIDS’ public health approach to behavioral health. A key factor in taking a public health approach is partnering with communities to improve psychological health and well-being.  Five guiding principles of this approach include: 1) focusing on population health; 2) moving upstream to include prevention; 3) implementing a broad range of interventions to improve health status; 4) emphasizing health promotion; and 5) redefining behavioral health care delivery. This presentation by the Commissioner of Philadelphia DBHIDS, a clinical and community psychologist, will summarize the Department’s role in creating systems change to take a public health approach, and will discuss lessons learned such as how community partnerships can promote public health through a publicly funded behavioral health system of care.