Chronic Disease Screening and Prevention Activities in Mental Health Clinics in New York State: Current Practices and Future Opportunities

To understand mental health clinics’ chronic disease screening and prevention activities, we surveyed mental health clinics in New York State regarding 16 preventive services. Both numerical and qualitative data were collected. Responding clinics (123, 24.7%) were most likely to report having up-to-date screening/management of tobacco use (114, 92.7%) and were most likely to refer out for infectious disease and cancer screening (57.7%–62.6%). Compared to private/non-profit clinics, county- and state-operated clinics were more likely to refer out for infectious disease screening and to ensure up-to-date: lipid disorder screening, abnormal glucose screening, HIV screening, and cancer screenings. Clinics reported a need for: (1) hiring more (dedicated) medical staff; (2) providing staff trainings; (3) educating patients; and (4) integrating with patients’ primary care providers. Implementing proven approaches—and developing new ones—for enhanced chronic disease prevention activities through improvements in policy, staffing, and reimbursement is warranted in mental health clinics.