Behavioral Health Resource Center

Many different factors can affect your behavioral or mental health. They include:

• Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
• Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
• Family history of mental health problems
• Lifestyle, such as diet, physical activity, and substance use

Specific actions can help maintain or improve your behavioral health. Activities range from simple steps you can take each day to more detailed action. They include: 

• Staying positive
• Having gratitude
• Taking care of your physical health
  • Be physically active
  • Get enough sleep
  • Practice healthy eating habits
• Connecting with others
• Cultivating a sense of meaning or purpose in your life
• Developing and implementing coping skills
• Meditation
• Using relaxation techniques
   

Below is a list of some common behavioral health issues you or someone you know may experience. Please remember that only medical professionals can diagnose an individual for a behavioral or behavioral health issue. Medical professionals should also be consulted before any treatment is considered.
 
Anxiety Disorder: When a person responds to certain objects or situations with fear or dread that can be both psychological and physical. The person's anxious response may be irrational, uncontrollable, or begin to alter that person's life in an effort to avoid the anxiety. Disorders include:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Panic Disorder
• Phobias
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Eating Disorders: When a person experiences extreme emotions, attitudes and behaviors towards weight, food, and body image. Disorders include:

• Anorexia Nervosa
• Binge Eating
• Bulimia

Substance Use Disorders: When a person uses substances or is dependent on a substance. Substance use disorders may be experienced along with depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, or a personality disorder.

Mood Disorders/Affective Disorders: When a person feels constantly sad, has a loss of interest in key parts of life, or fluctuates between extreme lows of sadness and extreme highs of happiness. In addition, the person’s emotional state is affected every day by the disorder. Disorders include: 

• Depression
• Bipolar Disorder
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Self-Harm

Suicidal Behavior: When individuals harm or attempt to harm themselves with the intention of ending their own life. There are often – but not always – warning signs to suicidal thoughts and actions.  
 

Talk with your Primary Care Provider. In addition, it may be helpful to: 

• Write down your questions ahead of time
• Record what medications you take
• Know your family history
• Bring a trusted friend or family member with you
• Be honest and open
• Ask any questions you may have

Counselors/Therapist:

• Commonly has a master's degree and may have a license or certification. Note that requirements vary by state 
• May help with understanding and coping with thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
• May be able to diagnosis and assess mental health conditions

Psychologist:

• Has a doctoral degree and is licensed by the boards in the provider's state
• May make diagnoses, provide individual and group therapy 
• May use CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) or other methods

Psychiatrist:

• Has a doctoral degree and residency training
• Licensed by the provider's state and may be board certified as well
• May prescribe and monitor medication
• May diagnose mental health conditions
• May provide therapy

Psychiatric or Behavioral/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner:

• Has a master’s or doctoral degree
• Licensed by the state the provider is in
• May have licenses: National Council Licensure Examination or Board Certification
• May assess or diagnosis mental health conditions or disorders
• May provide therapy
• In some states, may be allowed to prescribe and monitor medication

Primary Care Provider:

• Has a doctoral degree and can prescribe some medication but is not specialized
• Licensed in the state in which the provider practices
• Works with mental health professionals as a team

Family Nurse Practitioner:

• Has a master’s or doctoral degree
• Licensed in the state in which the provider practices
• May also have National Council Licensure Examination or Board Certified 
• May prescribe medication but is not specialized
• Works along with mental health professional