CORE Posters Fall 2025

Promotion of Whole Person Care: Development and Integration of a Behavioral Care Service at a Federally Qualified Health Center Gerges J, Kalu R, Keene H, Mackintire K, Osuorah O, Patel J, Serra B, Worth J, Nicholson J, & Kadio B Department of Preventive Care, Epidemiology and Public Health, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Virginia Campus

Group C

Introduction

Results

Conclusions

• Often people in the county of Floyd are not confident or only somewhat confident that they would be able to have access to behavioral health services when needed • Many of the participants have experienced some sort of mental health difficulties in the last 12 months: stress, depression, insomnia, abuse, substance use, or family/relationship difficulties • Approximately half of participants have previously been diagnosed with a mental health illness • Many of respondents have previously attended therapy, counseling, or have accessed mental/behavioral health services in the past • Residents of Floyd county identify the main barriers to behavioral health care as limited availability of services, high costs, and lack of insurance. • All respondents found it was either very important or somewhat important for behavioral health services to be more available and all, but one respondent, would use these services • The most desired behavioral health services are individual therapy, group therapy, support groups, medication management, and stress management. • Provides baseline pilot data on behavioral health needs in a rural community, highlights the prevalence of mental health challenges, and identifies barriers and service preferences that can inform program development • Next steps: Implementation of services and determine the extent that these services are being used at the Peer Center in Floyd or desire for more/different services than what are currently being offere d

• Behavioral health issues, particularly substance use disorders (SUDs), are a growing concern in the New River Valley, practically in Floyd County. • According to the 2024 community health needs assessment, overdose deaths have risen by 105% over the past five years among the New River Valley residents 1 . • The New River Valley has fewer mental health providers (68 per 100,000 residents) compared to the state average (84 per 100,000), emphasizing a need for better access to services 1 . • Peer centers are community-based treatment centers for people suffering from substance abuse disorders or mental illness 2 . They provide an alternative to inpatient care and are normally free to attend. • The goal of this project is to identify the behavioral health services most desired by residents of Floyd County to enhance engagement with and utilization of a new peer health center.

Figure 1. Reported confidence in respondents' ability to access behavioral health services in Floyd County

Methods

Variables: Predictors: age, gender, housing status, behavioral health/substance use history Outcomes: service needs, preferences, willingness to engage, barriers

Design: Cross sectional, community based, mixed methods study (April – September 2025)

Inclusion Criteria: 18 years or older Exclusion Criteria: Non-Floyd County Residents Population: Residents of Floyd County, Virginia

References

Figure 2. Reported barriers to receiving behavioral health services in Floyd County

1. United Way of Southwest Virginia. New River Valley Community Assessment . Published 2024. Accessed September 19, 2025. 2. Kowalski MA. Mental health recovery: The effectiveness of peer services in the community. Community Ment Health J . 2019;56(3):568-580. doi:10.1007/s10597-019-00514-5 3. Health Resources & Services Administration. Guidance for Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Needs Assessments . Accessed September 19, 2025. 4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Community Behavioral Health Survey Examples . Accessed September 19, 2025. 5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Mental Health and Access-to-Care Items . Accessed September 19, 2025.

Analysis: Descriptive statistics, χ² and t tests for associations; thematic analysis of open-ended responses

Data Collection: Anonymous paper/digital surveys administered with demographics, Likert scale items on service attitudes, and open ended questions

Acknowledgements

Thank you to our community partner, Tri-Area Community Health, for their continued support and communication and to the 401 Peer Center in Radford for allowing us to determine what

services are most used at their peer center. Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Institutional Review Board # 2025-074 Approval on September 16, 2025

Figure 3. Behavioral health services most needed in Floyd County according to respondents