Behavioral Health Toolkit
This toolkit offers updated resources to help improve care for mental health patients who present to an acute care, behavioral health or an intensive outpatient setting. These resources are unique to mental health patients and include clinical assessments, behavioral triggers, risk assessment tools, scripting tools, cultural diversity self-assessments, environment of care assessment tools, depression screening tools and hotline resources that can help improve patient experience and provide a safer environment of care.
Care of the Behavioral Health Patient
Healthcare providers must be knowledgeable of the issues, risks and responses associated with care of the behavioral health patient. The following information will assist healthcare providers to optimize treatment of behavioral patients that present in various healthcare settings.
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National Health Service Corps: NHSC Comprehensive Behavioral Health Services Checklist
A checklist to assess comprehensive behavioral health service elements.
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Quick Safety Issue 53
Article by The Joint Commission that discusses the value of psychiatric advanced directives and offers information on how to these can be developed with patients.
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Advance Directive for Mental Health Treatment
Sample psychiatric advanced directive forms developed by the Office of Mental Health and Mental Health Advocacy Service.
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Infographic: Navigating a Mental Health Crisis
An informational poster developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness that can be used by any healthcare organization. This poster can be used to educate patients and families or even staff members regarding mental health crisis and how to respond in an emergency.
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NAMI: Guide to Navigating a Mental Health Crisis
A guide developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness designed to provide individuals with mental illness and their families with support and resources. This guide provides a wealth of information on understanding mental illness, what to do in a mental health crisis and what to expect from treatment. It also includes a helpful portable treatment record that aids individuals and families in keeping up with health information and developing a plan of action for mental health crises.
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National Institute of Mental Health
NIMH provides resources on mental health topics and diseases based on conducted research.
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Treatment Advocacy Center-Louisiana
This resource provides a description of the laws in Louisiana regarding the treatment of mental health patients.
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Webinar: Safe Management of Behavioral Health Patients in the ED
The Emergency Department is the primary care provider for patients suffering behavioral or substance abuse diagnoses in many communities. The focus of this webinar is on the inherent risks related to the care of behavioral patients in the ED and strategies to prevent harm. See (link in CHER).
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Safe Management of Behavioral Health Patients in the ED Presentation
Click to view the presentation slides used in the Safe Management of Behavioral Health Patients in the ED Presentation webinar.
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Emergency Department Brief Behavioral Health Risk Assessment Tool
This tool assists our members in identifying potential risks in the emergency room setting related to behavioral health patients. The assessment guides the organization in a comprehensive evaluation of processes and protocols that should be in place to ensure a safe environment for the behavioral health population.
Depression & Suicide Screening & Prevention Best Practices
Depression and suicide screens are essential in identifying high-risk patients. Screening, assessment, re-assessment, education and prevention are the keys to a successful program. Provided are multiple tools to evaluate patients who present with signs and symptoms related to depression and suicide.
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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Adult Suicide Risk Screening Tool
This resource is an assessment tool for healthcare providers to determine suicide risk in adult patients.
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Webinar: Suicide Prevention of High-Risk Behavioral Patients
The behavioral health patient who needs acute care presents unique challenges to patient safety. This webinar discusses suicide prevention in high-risk behavioral patients.
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Suicide Prevention of High-Risk Behavioral Patients Presentation
Click to view the presentation slides used in the Suicide Prevention of High-Risk Behavioral Patients webinar.
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Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Provides resources about suicide, effective prevention and training for patients and families.
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Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (Brief Version)
The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale is provided in a brief version as a suicide risk screening tool. This short version rating scale assesses patients at risk for suicde that may enter a setting such as the emergency room quickly identifyng patients who are actively suicidal or experience suicidal thoughts.
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Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (Full Version)
The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale full version is an assessment tool that provides an in-depth evaluation for patients at risk for suicide. The full version rating scale identifies patients who are actively suicidal or experiencing suicidal thoughts in a way that is more time-consuming. This tool is best suited for an environment conducive to this type of assessment such as an inpatient psychiatric stay.
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PHQ-9 Patient Depression Questionnaire
A depression screening assessment to determine the level of a patient’s depression.
Safety and Security in Behavioral Health Arena
Maintanence of safety and security when caring for behavioral health patients is of paramount importance to ensure everyone remains safe. Use the resources in this section to evaluate and maintain a safe environment of care.
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Post-Incident Debriefing Form
Debriefing helps healthcare providers and the patient evaluate a crisis situation and plan to avoid future episodes throughout the patient’s stay. Interventions such as debriefing with patients post-violent episodes help to prevent reoccurring violence. This resource can serve as guide through the debriefing process.
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Use Security Officers to Monitor High-Risk Patients
Is your organization using security officers as sitters or one-on-one observers? If so, be sure your staff are appropriately trained and competent in the tasks being delegated to them. HC Pro’s Hospital Safety Center has released an article detailing the pitfalls of such assignments.
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Sample Sitter Guidelines
This document provides guidelines for sitters who observe patients identified as a danger to themselves and others. The form is an education tool for sitters to make them aware of expectations while they are sitting with the patient, including when to notify the nurse immediately. These guidelines are an important resource to help maintain a safe environment of care for patients.
Care of the Pediatric Behavioral Health Patient
The following resources concentrate on the care of pediatric behavioral health patients. The resources provided are screenings, scripts and education for healthcare providers, patients and guardians and are unique to the pediatric population.
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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Brief Suicide Safety Assessment for Pediatric Patients
These guidelines describe what healthcare providers should do when a pediatric patient screens positive for suicide risk.
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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Script for Nursing Staff
A script for nursing staff to help explain the condition of their minor child to parents/guardians.
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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Parent/Guardian Flyer
A flyer providing information to parents/guardians regarding what will occur during their minor child’s behavioral health visit.
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American Academy of Pediatrics: Mental Health Screening and Assessment Tools for Primary Care
This resource provides screening and assessment tools for primary care units involving patients with mental health issues.
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Patient Health Questionnaire 9 Modified for Adolescents (PHQ-9-M)
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Modified for Adolescents (PHQ-9-M) is a self-report tool used to assess the presence and severity of depressive symptoms in teenagers.
Environment Of Care in Behavioral Health
The plan and design of the facility, along with patient surroundings, are make up the environmental of care. Checklists and assessments are provided in this section to assist an organization in maintaining safe inpatient and outpatient behavioral health settings.
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Environmental Program Service Mental Health Guide
This resource provides information to maintain patient safety and mitigate incidents related to the enviroment of mental health pateints.
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Office of Construction and Facilities Management Design Guide for Mental Health Facilities
This resource provides a tool regarding the planning and design of a Mental Health Unit courtesy of the VA.
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VA Mental Health Environment Of Care Checklist for Mental Health Departments
An environment of care checklist for mental health areas courtesy of the VA.
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Behavioral Health Environmental Checklist
A basic checklist to help identify risks specific to the behavioral health population in a behavioral health patient care setting. This simple risk assessment will help reduce risks to patient safety in this population which may not be considered a danger in other settings.
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Intensive Outpatient Safety Checklist
A risk management tool, specific to the outpatient behavioral health environment, designed to help evaluate critical processes that should be in place to reduce risks and compliance issues.
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20 Tips for a Safer Environment of Care
The key to successfully caring for the behavioral health patient population is to focus on prevention of harm and have a plan of action in place for emergency situations. Review these tips to assist providers in identifying risks and promoting a safe environment for these patients.
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Fall Prevention in Behavioral Health
Falls are a common adverse event for behavioral health patients. This webinar considers different fall risk assessments, the common causes of falls amongst this patient population and possible interventions to reduce the occurrence of falls.
Behavioral Health Claim Trends
Claims frequently occur involving those patients who are committed for psychiatric treatment. This section offers resources to mitigate risks leading to such claims.
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Limitation of Liability For Crisis Intervention Trained Staff
Hospitals are encouraged to train all staff in violence and de-escalation techniques to help defuse potentially aggressive individuals. Louisiana law offers limitation of liability for staff who utilize these techniques in good faith, but they must have documented training by an instructor certified in a formal nonviolent crisis intervention program. This document references the Louisiana statute that applies to this unique situation.
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Webinar: Legal Issues in the Emergency Department Before and After the PEC
This webinar discusses the legal and regulatory requirements for treating psych patients in the emergency department. The presenter will also provide actual case studies to illustrate both the right and wrong way to handle some of the unusual and unexpected situations that may arise.
Mental Health Resources
Mental Health Resources inform patients, families and healthcare providers of accessible services related to mental health disorders, addictive disorders and substance abuse. Those listed below consist of national hotlines, self-assessments, advocacy services and regulatory authority.
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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Mental Health Resources Flyer
A flyer displaying resource information for national hotlines that can assist with mental health resources.
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Promoting Cultural Diversity and Cultural Competency Self-Assessment Checklist
A self-assessment checklist to determine a competency level in the area of promoting cultural diversity and cultural competency.
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Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority
Provides information on the licensing and credentialing of addiction counselors and prevention professionals in Louisiana.
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA provides resources for mental health patients and healthcare practitioners.
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Louisiana Department of Health-Behavioral Health
Provides information on the Louisiana Behavioral Health Advisory Council.
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Alzheimer's Disease Brochure
Living with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s Disease can be very challenging as the disease slowly impairs the ability to remember, think and reason appropriately. This brochure is an excellent resource to provide to families. It is meant to help them better understand some of the unique changes their loved one may experience and things that can be done to create a safer environment.
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Louisiana Law Help-Mental Health Advocacy Service
This resource provides support for mental health patients in the state of louisiana.