Integrated care is eliminating the goose chase for mental health services. On today's episode of While We Wait, Sania Ali and Avni Kulkarni interview two members of the Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Task Force about the current state of our mental health care system and policy solutions.

The interview points to a promising opportunity to coordinate mental health services with the foundation of health care services: primary care.

Guests on this episode include Kenna Chic and Marilyn Serafini from the Bipartisan Policy Center.

While We Wait was produced by Sania Ali and Avni Kulkarni for Health Affairs.

Theme music by Tommy Scanlon.

Related Links:

• Policies To Improve Implementation And Sustainability Of Behavioral Health Integration (Health Affairs Forefront)
• Tackling America's Mental Health and Addiction Crisis Through Primary Care Integration (Bipartisan Policy Center)
• Access To Mental Health Care And Incarceration (Mental Health America)

If you or a loved one is thinking about suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All calls are confidential. You can also call 911.