Introduction to Behavioral Health

Developing a Mental Health Court: An Interdisciplinary Curriculum is a free online multimedia curriculum for individuals and teams seeking to start, maintain, or just learn about mental health courts.

Introduction to Behavioral Health provides a basic overview of behavioral health systems so that criminal justice and mental health professionals can share an understanding of the needs of their common clientele and ensure that treatment and court supervision are coordinated.

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe the components of the mental health and substance use systems.
  2. Understand the symptoms and basic terminology of mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders (CODs).
  3. Describe the principles of effective treatment for mental illnesses and CODs.

Presentation


Developing a Mental Health Court: Introduction to Behavioral Health
Developing a Mental Health Court: An Interdisciplinary Curriculum is a free online multimedia curriculum for individuals and teams seeking to start, maintain, or just learn about mental health courts.

Additional Resources

Policy and Practice Guides

American Psychiatric Association, The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Text Revision, 5th Edition (DSM-TR)(Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The DSM provides a common language and typology for mental disorders in both children and adults.
Available here

Alex M. Blandford and Fred C. Osher, A Checklist for Implementing Evidence-Based Practices and Programs (EBPs) for Justice-Involved Adults with Behavioral Health Disorders (Delmar, NY: SAMHSA’s GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation, 2012). This resource contains an easy-to-use checklist to help behavioral health agencies assess their utilization of evidence-based practices and programs (EBPs) associated with positive outcomes for individuals with behavioral health conditions who are in the criminal justice system.
Available here

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Continuity of Offender Treatment for Substance Use Disorders from Institution to Community, Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 30 (Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1998). This publication offers guidelines for establishing a continuum of care for people with mental illnesses transitioning from correctional institutions to the community.
Available here

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Definitions and Terms Relating to Co-Occurring Disorders (Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and Center for Mental Health Services, 2006). This paper provides definitions of terms associated with substance-related disorders, mental illnesses, and co-occurring disorders.
Available here

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse Treatment: Addressing the Specific Needs of Women Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 51 (Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2009). This publication provides behavioral health practitioners with an overview of best practices and gender-specific treatment interventions for women with substance use disorders.
Available here

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse Treatment for Adults in the Criminal Justice System Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 44 (Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2005). This publication identifies clinical EBPs, tools, and resources to assist behavioral health professionals in treating clients with substance use disorders who are in the criminal justice system.
Available here

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons with Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 42 (Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2005).  This publication gives behavioral health practitioners an overview of treatment options and best practices for individuals with co-occurring disorders.
Available here

The Council of State Governments Justice Center, Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project (New York: The Council of State Governments Justice Center, 2002). This report provides policymakers and criminal justice and mental health professionals with recommendations and strategies to improve the criminal justice system’s response to people with mental illnesses.
Available here

Robert E. Drake et al., “Implementing Dual Diagnosis Services for Clients with Severe Mental Illness,” Psychiatric Services 52, (2011): 469–476. This article discusses the components of effective treatment for co-occurring mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
Available here

Jackie Massaro, Overview of the Mental Health Service System for Criminal Justice Professionals (Delmar, NY: GAINS Technical Assistance and Policy Analysis Center for Jail Diversion, 2005). This publication provides an overview of the adult mental health service system and identifies common challenges in meeting and treating the needs of individuals with mental illnesses.
Available here

National Institute of Mental Health, Mental Health Medications (Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). This resource gives an overview of mental health diagnoses and medications.
Available here

National Leadership Forum for Behavioral Health/Criminal Justice Services. “Ending an American Tragedy: Addressing the Needs of Justice-Involved People with Mental Illnesses and Co-Occurring Disorders.” National Leadership Forum for Behavioral Health/Criminal Justice Services, (2010).This report highlights the needs of people with co-occurring disorders who are involved in the criminal justice system and identifies effective practices that communities can implement to address these needs.
Available here

Fred C. Osher and Irene Levine, Navigating the Mental Health Maze: A Guide for Court Practitioners (New York: The Council of State Governments Justice Center, 2005). This guide provides a crash course for criminal justice professionals interested in better understanding mental illness and the mental health system.
Available here

Fred C. Osher et al., Adults with Behavioral Health Needs under Correctional Supervision: A Shared Framework for Reducing Recidivism and Promoting Recovery (New York: The Council of State Governments Justice Center, 2012). This publication introduces criminal justice and behavioral health practitioners to an evidence-based framework for prioritizing scarce resources based on assessments of individuals’ risk of committing a future crime and their treatment and support needs.
Available here

Roger Peters and Fred C. Osher, Co-Occurring Disorders and Specialty Courts (Delmar, NY: The National GAINS Center, 2004). This monograph gives problem-solving court practitioners an overview of the needs of people with co-occurring disorders and identifies best practices associated with the treatment of individuals with co-occurring disorders in problem-solving courts.
Available here

Wayne Scott and Crime and Justice Institute, Effective Clinical Practices in Treating Clients in the Criminal Justice System (Washington, DC: National Institute of Corrections, 2008). This monograph gives an overview of EBPs in corrections and behavioral health and provides clinicians and criminal justice practitioners with a catalogue of evidence-based interventions to treat criminality, substance use disorders, and mental illnesses.
Available here

Websites