Authored by: The Center for Case Management, May 2022
The CDC reports that 1 in 5 American adults experience a mental illness in their lifetime. The global pandemic added grief and stress that contributed to the increase in mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. As healthcare professionals see a rise in patients with psychosocial issues—it is important to involve case managers that can help manage these issues.
Assessing Patient Needs
Case managers assess patients to ensure their needs are being met. When mental health concerns are prevalent, patients need specialized care to make sure the issues are being addressed and, most importantly, they are being educated on the best support available to them. With the proper assessment tools, case managers guide the patient to the resources most beneficial to them.
Creating a Treatment Plan
Having the right resources and tools, case managers take a look at areas in the patient’s life that cause stress and offer solutions to help them manage their day-to-day. Developing the best treatment plan is especially important for patients that experience mental health issues. Case managers are equipped to address the areas in a patient’s life that may trigger the mental health concerns–such as work/life balance and financial issues. Working alongside the patient and their families/support systems, case managers discuss options readily available to patients and educate them on how said options meet the patient’s needs.
Putting the Pieces Back Together
Case managers strive to ensure people are making the best use of the mental services available to them. Taking an individualized approach to how the patient is treated, case managers help establish goals and develop strategies that focus on the improvement of the patient’s mental health.
In hospitals and other healthcare settings, case managers are here to help. With continued advocacy for awareness and education, there is hope for improvement in psychosocial patient treatment.