Alcantarillas

A PRIMARY PREVENTION FRAMEWORK FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH

The purpose of this document is to describe this new prevention approach and provide a broad framework for promoting behavioralhealth and community well-being. Behavioral health is a term that is increasingly utilized to acknowledge that mental health issues and alcohol and other drug problems often go hand in hand, and formany, it is hard to separate one from another. It is an attempt to better address the whole person, not just treating someone for depression and ignoring their substance abuse issues or vice versa.Emerging evidence suggests that certain behavioral health problems can be prevented.

Prevention efforts are most successful when they use multi-faceted solutions that address the individual andfamilies but also environment, etc. Prevent addresses problems before they occur is called primary prevention. The BHRS Primary Prevention Framework process identified four prevention strategies that canstem the flow of people who need intensive behavioral health services. These strategies focus on 1) enhancing place, 2) connecting people, 3) fostering prosperity, and 4) expanding partnerships.STRATEGY 1

Enhance Place: Enhance the places people lives, work, play, go to school, etc. to support emotional and psychological health, reduce substance abuse, and decrease exposure to violence.There is a growing body of evidences that the built environment affects behavioral health both directly and indirectly. Place can also reduce isolation and foster social interactions. Recent studiesdocument that residents involved in community gardening experience health benefits, including improved mental health.

STRATEGY 2

Connect people: Strengthen positive social-emotional development,enhance social connections, and reduce isolation to support emotional health, promote psychological well-being, reduce substances abuse, and decrease exposure to violence.
Quality relationships...