Behavioral Health Terms

The evaluation or review of the nature, quality, ability, and other components of someone or something.

A substance that causes a physical effect from how it affects the brain

A collaborative process of assessment, planning, coordinating, evaluating, and advocating to ensure a person or family has their unique needs met. This could refer to the overall approach of treatment or to a particular person's task on a treatment team.

Care provided in a residential medical facility. Normally, the patient is admitted and spends one or more nights at the facility to ensure around-the-clock care.

Care that does not require being admitted or regular supervision. Outpatient care settings may include a doctor's office, clinic visit, behavioral health appointment, etc. The patient is able to maintain care in their everyday life with support from health professionals.

Support from people who have been through similar situations and have since successfully maintained a healthy lifestyle. Peer support comes when people offer understanding, respect, and empowerment to others who are currently addressing their concerns. Peer support helps to engage people during their recovery and reduces the likelihood of relapse.

Recovery is the process of changing behaviors to improve health and wellness. Supports and services are those systems which help people through the process of change. Recovery services and supports is often related to behavioral health and substance use disorders, which often happen together.

Observations and tests used to identify behavioral health concerns, substance use disorders, and other potential health issues earlier in their development. Screening for behavior patterns that are common among substance use disorders may help a provider suggest a treatment plan or alternative approach before the patterns becomes a life-threatening issue.

Care provided to a patient to improve their health. Often behavioral health has a treatment plan, which includes tactics to address physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual concerns. The most successful treatments are decided through the collaboration of the doctor and the patient to ensure the approach is something the patient wants and can fit into their lives.

Emotional, psychological, and social facets of overall health; may often be used to refer to mental health

The recurring use of a substance (legal or illegal) to the point that it interferes with the user's responsibilities and/or physical health

The recurring use of opioids to the point that it interferes with the user's responsibilities and/or physical health

When a person has a behavioral health concern and a substance use or opioid use disorder

When a person has a behavioral health concern and a physical health concern

A doctor, a nurse, a physician's assistant, a community health aide, a behavioral health aide, a psychologist, a clinician, social worker, or other licensed person who provides health care

An overall term to describe concerns linked to mental health conditions according to the DSM-VI; may often be used to refer to mental illness or behavioral health

A treatment option that relies on certain medications to help those with opioid use disorder

All providers must report to the authorities if they think someone is in danger to protect that person