Behavioral Health
Background
Behavioral health is the scientific study of the emotions, behaviors, and biology relating to a person's mental well-being, their ability to function in every day life, and their concept of self. Behavioral health encompasses mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention and is a top priority in the Greater Nashua Public Health Region (GNPHR) for a variety of reasons. These reasons include our region's high prevalence of substance misuse, high rate of opioid overdose fatalities, high rate of suicide attempts and deaths by suicide, lack of access to timely treatment for those seeking behavioral health services, and limited mental health promotion and awareness. Approximately one in eight visits to emergency departments in the United States (U.S.) involves mental and substance use disorders. The goal for the GNPHR is to reach the Healthy People 2020 goals for each of the categories under Behavioral Health. Check out our individual pages for a detailed look at the behavioral health of the GNPHR.
Mayor's Opioid Task Force
Our Mayor's Opioid Task Force (MOTF) is a diverse group of organizations who have a passion and vision to create change and make an impact on the current opioid problem in the GNPHR. MOTF envisions the development of sustainable solutions through a continuum of care model to reduce barriers to access to treatment and recovery for substance misuse. MOTF works collaboratively to improve prevention activities and access to behavioral health services to stop overdose and save lives. MOTF completes this work through strategic leadership and guidance through systems thinking to develop a continuum of care model, which incorporates prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts using a collective, adaptive approach to effectively reduce opioid misuse, overdose, and death. You can learn more about the Nashua MOTF here.
Looking Ahead
All citizens have a role to play in addressing substance misuse within the community and raising awareness of mental health and suicide prevention. The GNPHR has new initiatives being implemented to address behavioral health and established agencies that have warm lines that people can access when they need to talk about mental health stressors and resources within the community. The Integrated Delivery Network (IDN) is an initiative that is working on integrating behavioral health and primary care services for the Medicaid eligible population. The GNPHR is working through the IDN to increase collaboration between agencies that provide medical care and behavioral health services. We are confident that these and other initiatives being implemented in the GNPHR will move us towards our goal of a healthier and safer community for all. If you want to become part of the solution, learn more about the substance misuse prevention and behavioral continuum of care efforts in the GNPHR on our website.
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Looking for resources in Greater Nashua? Get Connected. Get Help. Visit 211nh.org or dial 2-1-1.