Maryland’s Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Spring 2018 - 5

A HEALTHY START
from UM Harford Memorial Hospital.
The national standard of care is to
treat both disorders within the same
site, at the same time. For longerterm substance use treatment and
similar to long-term mental health
treatment, we partner (not just refer)
with community providers, as we
have done with Ashley Addiction
Services at UM Upper Chesapeake
Medical Center in Bel Air as well as
Ashley's location in Elkton.

Q

How do behavioral health
problems affect physical health?

A: People with serious psychiatric
conditions often have more severe
physical conditions and a shorter life

Behavioral Health 101
ANSWERS TO SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT EMOTIONAL DISORDERS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

H

arford County ranks seventh

incorporates both

highest in our state for suicide

mental health and

completion and fifth highest for

substance use.
Many people have

drug overdose. That's the bad news.

both issues-not

The good news is that University of

span. Behavioral health conditions like
substance abuse, depression and anxiety affect how well people can take
care of themselves on a daily basis as
well as other conditions like diabetes,
weight and blood pressure. The interaction goes both ways.

Q

UM UCH's Vision 2020 plan
includes a significant investment

in behavioral health services in our

Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health

one without the

community. Why is this so important?

(UM UCH) is actively working toward

other. They're often

A: Integrating behavioral health into

referred to as co-

the general medical setting helps us

occurring conditions.

to screen for conditions early on in

Behavioral health

a medical assessment, leading to

captures a larger

much better outcomes for the patient.

breadth of conditions

UM UCH's plans provide a needed

from depression and

service for those individuals impacted

anxiety to alcohol

by behavioral health disorders.

and extremely committed to a strategic plan where many stakeholders and
providers band together to focus on
prevention, intervention and recovery
for behavioral health issues.
Richard Lewis, MD, regional medical
director of behavioral health services

Richard Lewis,
MD, regional
medical
director of
behavioral
health services
at UM UCH

at UM UCH, answers a few of the most

and drug abuse, so it includes mental,

frequently asked questions about the

behavioral or emotional disorders. It

reassured that our commitment to

state of behavioral health in our region

also includes health maintenance-your

maintaining a safe environment for

and our plans for the future.

diet, adherence to treatment, etc.

our patients, their families and our

Q

We want our community to be

We often treat the serious mental

community has always been a top

Is the term behavioral health

health issues while also stabilizing the

priority for us, and this focus and

the same as mental health? Why

substance use before referring that

commitment will continue at the UM

don't you just call it mental health?

individual for more intensive addiction

Upper Chesapeake Medical Center -

A: The term behavioral health

treatment that may follow discharge

Havre de Grace campus. 

 Learn more about our behavioral health program by visiting umuch.org/healthy.

umuch.org | Spring 2018  5
http://www.umuch.org/healthy http://www.umuch.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland’s Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Spring 2018
