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    Mental and Behavioral Health: Clinical Guidance and Practice Resources

    In 2021, an estimated 58 million adults aged 18 and older experienced some form of mental illness within the past year, with 14 million of them facing serious mental health challenges.1 Additionally, 5 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 had a major depressive episode within the past year.1 During the same year, approximately 162 million individuals aged 12 or older engaged in the use of tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs in the previous month.1 Primary care physicians play a crucial role in addressing these concerns, serving as the first point of contact for patients seeking help.

    This page is a centralized hub for family physicians to locate a comprehensive collection of resources on mental and behavioral health.

    Jump to Guidance and Resources by Topic

    USPSTF Recommendations
    Treatment and Management Recommendations
    Managing Your Practice
    Implementation Tools and Considerations

    Education
    AAFP Clinical Practice Guidelines & Recommendations
    AAFP Policies and Position Papers

    Other Resources
    Health Equity
    Physician Well-being

    Implementation Tools and Considerations

    Watch this Practice Hack for strategies to integrate the PHQ-9 screening into your clinical practice. This includes steps you can take to support your patients who may need additional behavioral health resources or follow-up. 

    Education

    Continuing Medical Education

    Mental Health

    Family Medicine Intensive: Depressive Disorder

    Family Medicine Intensive: Anxiety

    Behavioral Health Integration On Demand

    Addressing Prenatal Alcohol Use

    Neurology and Behavioral Health Self-Study

    Substance Use Disorders

    American Family Physician

    AFP by topic: Anxiety Disorders

    AFP by topic: Depression and Bipolar Disorders

    AFP by topic: Substance Use Disorders

    AFP by topic: Tobacco Use and Dependence

    Patient Education on FamilyDoctor.org

    Dysthymic Disorder or Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)

    Coping with a Family Member’s Opioid Addiction

    Substance Abuse

    Prescription and OTC Drug Abuse

    Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs During Pregnancy

    Opioid Addiction

    Browse the Mental Health section on FamilyDoctor.org for related topics.

    AAFP Clinical Practice Guidelines and Recommendations

    Depression Following Acute Coronary Syndrome

    Opioid Use Disorder (OUD): Screening

    Unhealthy Drug Use: Screening

    AAFP Policies and Position Papers 

    Alcohol Advertising and Underage Alcohol Usage

    Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS)

    Learner Access to Mental Health Services

    Mental Health: Parity in Coverage for Patients

    Mental Health: Physician Responsibilities

    Substance Use Disorders

    Substance Use Disorder Education for Students and Residents

    Tobacco Advertising and Labeling

    AAFP Position Paper: Marijuana and Cannabinoids: Health, Research, and Regulatory Considerations

    AAFP Position Paper: Mental Health Care Services by Family Physicians

    AAFP Position Paper: Preventing and Treating Nicotine Dependence and Tobacco Use

    Other Resources

    In the Trenches: We’re Sharpening Our Focus on Behavioral Health Care

    Research Highlights Primary Care’s Role in Mental Health

    Check out CDC resources on Suicide Prevention

    988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

    Be The 1 To: Learn the warning signs of suicide with this tool from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

    Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Collaborative

    References

    1.           Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Highlights for the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. 2021 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Releases. Accessed October 10, 2023. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/release/2021-national-survey-drug-use-and-health-nsduh-releases

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