Summary

The web content distinguishes between integrated and integrative mental health care approaches, emphasizing the importance of advocating for comprehensive patient care.

Abstract

The article "Integrated vs. Integrative Mental Health" clarifies the differences between two similar yet distinct healthcare models within mental health care. Integrative mental health care is characterized by combining conventional mental health treatments with alternative or complementary therapies, aiming for a holistic approach that includes non-traditional methods like aromatherapy and acupuncture. In contrast, integrated mental health care focuses on the collaboration between mental health professionals and medical doctors to provide coordinated, client-focused care that addresses a patient's cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being, often seen in inpatient settings. The author, a graduate student in Clinical Mental Health, advocates for patients to be proactive in their care, suggesting practical steps such as signing release forms, communicating with healthcare providers, attending appointments, and participating actively in treatment plans. The article also acknowledges the challenges faced by support people and directs them to resources like NAMI for assistance.

Opinions

The author believes that patients should be their own advocates in pursuing an integrated or integrative approach to mental health care.
There is an emphasis on the importance of communication between healthcare providers and the patient's active participation in their treatment.
The author suggests that integrated care is more common in inpatient settings, while integrative care can be pursued in various healthcare environments.
The article conveys that the complexity of mental health care requires a collaborative effort between patients, mental health professionals, and medical doctors.
Support people are encouraged to play an active role in facilitating integrated or integrative care for their loved ones with mental health conditions.
The author highlights the value of support groups like NAMI for individuals and support people involved in the mental health care journey.

Integrated vs. Integrative Mental Health

Understanding the Difference and Advocating for Your Care

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Have you ever used two words interchangeably only to discover they are NOT interchangeable? Words like integrated and integrative look almost the same. However, they have similar but different meanings in healthcare. In this short post, I am focusing on mental health care. Both integrative and integrated care are meant to optimize patient care in distinctly different ways.

What is Integrative Mental Health Care?

An integrative approach to mental health includes conventional methods of mental health care like talk therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, trauma therapies like EMDR, and many other more traditional modalities combined with alternative or complementary care. Examples of alternative care may include aromatherapy, spiritual practices, acupuncture, yoga, meditation, or many other methods. Integrative care is a holistic approach that involves thinking “outside the box.”

Integrative behavioral health is an approach that considers multiple approaches, drawing different techniques from a variety of therapeutic methods. Methods may be theories-based, like cognitive behavioral behavior therapy, or include alternative medicine options like acupuncture. An integrative model emphasizes the use of various modalities and techniques, vs. an integrated model emphasizing a collaborative effort between practitioners.

What is Integrated Mental Health Care?

Integrated care focuses on a collaborative effort between conventional mental health care and medical doctors. In an integrated model of care, mental health and medical professionals collaborate to provide comprehensive care and a wide range of treatment options addressing behavioral health. It is coordinated care where patients have a treatment team to help them navigate their journey towards less distress and impairment in life.

Integrated mental health care typically involves a diagnosis aspect of care. It is client-focused, emphasizing the entire person’s cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being. Integrated care is common during inpatient care. However, an integrated approach is possible in outpatient care but may take more effort on the patient’s part.

Pursuing Integrated Mental Health Care Outside of Inpatient Care

If you are in therapy, you may be wondering how you can pursue an integrated approach to your mental health care. Care for patients outside of inpatient facilities often feels fractured. Healthcare professionals are spread out in different offices, so busy with their own patient care and focused on their area of medicine. For that reason, you may need to be your own advocate.

Here are a few tips to help you take active steps toward integrated care.

Sign all the right forms. Each medical practice will have release of information forms. If you want your therapist to be able to communicate with your medical doctor or other practitioners, it is imperative to complete the proper forms to allow them to share your information.
Talk with your doctors and therapists. If your doctor and therapist do not know you want them to coordinate your care, they will likely not pursue communication with each other. Ask questions specific to your concerns and be willing to help them receive the information they need from each office.
Go to your appointments. It is important to show up for your appointments to ensure proper care. Many offices now offer telehealth appointments for established patients, making it easier to make appointments you may have previously canceled for time purposes, inclement weather, or other reasons.
Use each provider’s preferred communication methods. When communicating with your providers, make sure you use their preferred methods of communication. It may feel overwhelming because this typically involves setting up an account using login credentials and two-step verification. Remember all the steps are in place to keep your information private.
Participate in your care. One of the hardest things to do when suffering from a mental health condition is to participate in your care. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and many other common mental health challenges often inhibit your desire and motivation to make appointments, take medications regularly, or actively participate in making behavioral changes designed to lessen distress or impairment.

These suggestions may feel overwhelming and are not meant to add one more thing to an already complicated life. The goal is that they will provide a little encouragement and hope that you can pursue integrated or integrative care with your therapists and doctors.

Notes for Support People

If you are a support person for someone who struggles with mental health conditions, you are not alone. Many aspects of being a support person become variables with time, adding layers of difficulty to an already difficult job. Supporting a minor is very different than caring for an adult on a mental health journey. The rules change as soon as someone turns 18. While this post is not dedicated to navigating all those situations, I wanted to provide some encouragement for all support people.

You can help your friend or loved one pursue an integrated or integrative approach to their care. It often involves ensuring all the proper forms are signed for information sharing, making appointments, and helping them get to their appointments.

Being a support person for someone struggling with mental health issues is challenging. Reach out for help through groups like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI is a nationwide group that can provide life-giving support and encouragement — for you.

I am a graduate student at Lipscomb University pursuing my Clinical Mental Health Masters degree. I work as a freelance writer, graduate assistant, and primary support person for my daughter, who is navigating complex mental health issues. Check out more of my work on Medium, #thesosblog and #hopehas4paws.

Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist or medical or financial professional. The information here is based on my personal experience, is for general use only, and is not a substitute for professional advice.