Supreme Court hires 1st Behavoiral Health Administrator

You probably heard this news over the weekend; it was pretty widely reported.

Here's the Supreme Court's complete press release on this hire. I'll come back when you're finished:

The Illinois Supreme Court has hired Scott Block to serve as the state’s first Statewide Behavioral Health Administrator. Block will serve as the Illinois Judicial Branch’s dedicated mental health voice and resource, committed to furthering local, state, and national behavioral health and justice initiatives that affect the courts. In this capacity, he will act as the project director of the Illinois Supreme Court Mental Health Task Force and provide professional guidance on the Illinois Courts’ response to behavioral health issues that intersect with the justice system.

“We welcome Scott and look forward to his mental health expertise and leadership within the Illinois Judicial Branch,” Chief Justice Anne M. Burke said. “The Illinois Courts have been at the forefront of mental health best practices and this hire raises the bar on what we can accomplish.”

Block previously served as the Executive Director of the McHenry County Mental Health Board and was the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court’s Director of Special Projects prior to that. While working with the court, Block planned, designed, implemented, and led daily Problem-Solving Court operations. After building a solid foundation, the court’s Mental Health Court and Adult Drug Court programs were subsequently awarded AOIC certification, and the Adult Drug Court was recognized by the National Drug Court Institute with “Mentor Court” status.

“We are excited to welcome Scott to the Illinois Judicial Branch. Having worked with Scott on previous and ongoing justice and behavioral health-related issues, it was clear he has many of the skills and relationships needed to achieve our goals,” said Marcia M. Meis, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. “He will be a key leader in furthering many projects as the intersection of behavioral health and justice continues to grow in priority.”

Block holds several credentials in the behavioral health and justice field, including a certification from the National Center for State Courts as a Court Manager, and a Certification form the Illinois Certification Board as a Criminal Justice Addictions Professional.

“The opportunity to serve the Judicial Branch in this new role is an exciting progression of my career,” Block said. “It is a bittersweet goodbye to the Mental Health Board, as I have enjoyed and appreciated working with such a community-minded and committed Board of Directors, County Board, staff, and network of service providers. At the same time, I am excited to continue my work at the state level.”

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I would have run this when I saw it, but I got caught up in the jargon. What is the difference, if any, between mental health and behavioral health? The terms are used interchangeably here. The creative writer distinguishes him- or herself by using multiple words to mean the same thing but, in the law, when different words are used, we are taught to assume they mean something different. We are all too often reminded of the stigma that attaches to persons who seek mental health treatment. Is "behavoiral health" just a bit of linguistic legerdemain meant to soften the blow for those who need mental health treatment (or for those who need to recommend it)?

While my journey down the search engine rabbit hole produced a number of examples of equivalence, I think there is an officially-recognized distinction. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has a short paper online about the integration of behavioral health into health promotion and health care delivery and financing:

The term “behavioral health” in this context means the promotion of mental health, resilience and wellbeing; the treatment of mental and substance use disorders; and the support of those who experience and/or are in recovery from these conditions, along with their families and communities.

The CDC says mental health "includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices."

It appears that the terms are not properly interchangeable, but they certainly overlap. Behavioral health may be the broader term -- a person struggling with obesity, for example, may be eligible for behavioral health services but not in need of mental health treatment. Substance abuse problems may be triggered by mental illness, but not always. Behavioral health treatment would be indicated for any substance abuse problem, perhaps, whether or not triggered by an underlying mental illness.

For more on the disctinction between "behavioral health" and "mental health" turn to this post on Page Two.