UPMC Health Plan shines a light on mental health as part of Mental Health Awareness Month in May

This month, we are highlighting several educational opportunities featuring such topics as pediatric behavioral health conditions and suicide and depression screening and assessment. These trainings offer clinicians the opportunity to learn more about evidence-based practices and tools for encouraging patients to receive screening, assessment, treatment and/or referral, as well as ongoing care and monitoring for behavioral health conditions.

These free continuing medical education (CME)* courses centered around mental health aim to help you increase the depth and quality of care you provide:

• Suicide and Depression in the Primary Care Office
  Get information on the prevalence of depression, suicide, and suicidal thoughts. Learn about the importance of screening for depression and suicide within primary care (including an overview of screening tools), best practices for the treatment of depression (including prescribing practices for antidepressants), preferred pathways for primary care to treat and/or refer patients to best address their behavioral health needs, and behavioral health resources and tools provided by UPMC Health Plan.
• Perinatal Psychiatry: Updates for the OB-GYN in a Rapidly Evolving Field
  Learn about perinatal psychiatry and the impact that COVID-19 has had on maternal mental health, updates in pharmacological management of perinatal depression, and implementing awareness of health care disparities as it relates to perinatal psychiatry.
• Suicide Prevention and the National 988 Line
  Educate yourself on the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s 24/7 mental health crisis support and prevention resources so you can increase awareness of the lifeline among patients, families, and communities.
• Pediatric Behavioral Health: Best Practices for Primary Care
  Enhance your knowledge of pediatric screening for behavioral health issues.

*Provider is responsible for verifying CME eligibility.