Huntsman Mental Health Institute Celebrates 10 Years of Behavioral Health Integration Program

The groundbreaking care model expanded from 5 to 15+ clinic locations to achieve 15% patient penetration rate, exceeding national benchmarks

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntsman Mental Health Institute at the University of Utah is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its groundbreaking Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Program, which has transformed mental health care delivery across Utah's primary care and specialty clinics. Prior to the program's launch in 2015, 41% of primary care patients had an accompanying mental health diagnosis; however, many patients faced barriers as behavioral health care was typically referred to community providers with long wait lists, limited reimbursement, and contractual carve-outs.

Since its inception, the BHI Program has expanded from 5 to more than 15 clinics and now achieves a 15% penetration rate—meaning that 15% of all primary care patients annually receive integrated behavioral health care. Through innovative clinical practices, embedded social workers see six times more unique patients per year than traditional outpatient behavioral health settings, significantly improving access and outcomes. The dramatic reduction in wait times—from 74 days for traditional outpatient mental health services to an average of just 10 days from referral to appointment—demonstrates the power of the program's innovative approach.

The BHI Program uses collaborative best practices to promote self-determination, self-empowerment, and integrated medicine through partnerships between medical healthcare providers, behavioral healthcare providers, and the community. It embeds licensed social workers directly into medical clinics, providing immediate mental health support alongside primary care services. This innovative "warm hand-off" model eliminates traditional barriers to mental health care, offering patients same-day access to behavioral health services.

"Over the past decade, our Behavioral Health Integration Program has fundamentally changed how we deliver mental health care," said Teresa Lopez, Director, Behavioral Health Integration. "By embedding behavioral health professionals directly into primary care settings, we've created a seamless care experience that meets patients where they are, when they need it most. This program represents our commitment to making mental health care as accessible and routine to Utahns as any other aspect of primary care."

Addressing Critical Mental Health Needs

With Utah ranking among the nation's top 10 for suicide rates, the program addresses the state's significant mental health challenges. Nearly half of Utah's youth report experiencing mental health challenges, making accessible behavioral health care essential for community well-being.

The BHI model has demonstrated remarkable clinical outcomes. Through the program's Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), 25% of patients experienced a 50% or greater clinical improvement, while 78% showed a 5-point or greater reduction in depression scores. The program achieved a 15.5% penetration rate in primary care—significantly exceeding the national benchmark target of 8-10% annually.

A Decade of Innovation and Growth

What began as a pilot program funded through collaborative investment between the Community Physician's Group and UNI/Huntsman Mental Health Institute has evolved into a comprehensive, efficient model. Key program milestones include the introduction of innovative workflows such as the Auto-PHQ depression screening system (facilitated through My Chart), which logged over 6,000 screening encounters in 2024 alone, and the implementation of Zero Suicide protocols and collaborative psychiatric care across multiple clinic locations.

"Having on-site mental health care is a game changer," said Crystal Armstrong, MD, one of the first physicians to join the program. "When a patient is experiencing a mental health crisis, they need to receive the most effective, compassionate, and timely care. The social worker on site immediately assesses the patient's needs, provides stabilization techniques, and connects them with the right resources. What used to be a lengthier process involving several staff members and me, now keeps things moving and helps my patients get the care they need within hours or days, not months."

Expanding Access Through Innovation

The program has pioneered several innovative approaches, including specialty clinic integration serving patients with neurological conditions such as ALS and Muscular Dystrophy, women's health needs, and chronic illnesses. The BHI team has developed specialized support groups for conditions ranging from long COVID to Parkinson's disease, addressing the intersection of physical and mental health.

The program's financial accessibility is equally important—Collaborative Care services are billed through the primary care provider at standard copay rates rather than specialist fees, making care accessible to Medicaid recipients and other underserved populations.

Looking Toward the Future

As the program enters its second decade, HMHI continues to refine and expand services. Recent initiatives include the "You Matter Outreach" program, expanded therapy groups for conditions like POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and menopause-related mental health concerns, and continued integration with HMHI's Crisis Care Center and Youth Crisis Care program.

The BHI Program has also established robust educational partnerships, creating formal internship programs with the University of Utah College of Social Work and providing training opportunities for medical students, psychiatry residents, and social work interns.

Additional highlights of the program include:

• 133,063 completed visits
• 18,426 same-day visits
• 16,134 unique patients in 2024
• 45,756 referrals to BHI departments
• 15.5% primary care penetration rate (exceeding 8-10% national benchmark)

About Huntsman Mental Health Institute

Huntsman Mental Health Institute at the University of Utah is a first-of-its-kind model created to address one of our nation's greatest challenges: mental health and substance use disorders. The institute combines the strength of one of America's leading research universities with the nation's best integrated mental health crisis care model and a comprehensive continuum of care that includes a 161-bed hospital and more than 85 outpatient locations. A gift of $150 million from the Huntsman family helps power our mission to advance mental health knowledge, hope, and healing for all. Learn more at: healthcare.utah.edu/HMHI.

SOURCE Huntsman Mental Health Institute