Those with a mental illness are more likely to battle a substance use disorder than those who do not have a mental illness. In 2022, about 21.5 million American adults had a co-occurring disorder, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This is because some substances can cause people to experience symptoms of mental health issues, and some mental health problems can lead to substance use.
Recognizing this, outpatient addiction treatment provider Eleanor Health has launched a referral partnership with mental health provider Thriveworks, the companies recently announced.
Waltham, Massachusetts-based Eleanor Health provides virtual and in-person support to those with opioid use disorder, alcohol use disorder and stimulant use disorders. Its services include medication-assisted treatment, mental health therapy and peer support with individuals who have lived experience with addiction. The company operates in Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Washington.
Lynchburg, Virginia-based Thriveworks, meanwhile, offers individual therapy, couples counseling, child and teen therapy, family therapy and psychiatry. Like Eleanor Health, patients can access its services in person and virtually. It serves patients in 49 states and the District of Columbia.
Through the partnership, Eleanor Health’s patients can access Thriveworks’ therapists for additional mental health support beyond their substance-use disorder, including couples and family counseling. Likewise, Thriveworks’ patients in Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Washington can receive substance-use disorder treatment from Eleanor Health.
“The link between substance use disorder and mental illness has been validated through research,” said Dr. Dan Frogel, CEO of Thriveworks, in an email. “The issue has reached critical mass, with relapse prevention often overlooked in the industry’s scramble to plug needs related to active addiction. As a behavioral health provider committed to whole person health, we see it as part of our duty of care that clients requiring higher acuity care for substance use disorder are properly treated. This partnership is a significant step towards achieving that.”
Frogel added that patients with substance use disorders don’t always want to open up about their addiction. Thriveworks has trained its clinicians on how to identify these issues, talk to their patients about addiction and point them to resources.
Combining medication-assisted treatment with therapy and peer support is becoming the “gold standard for treating addiction,” said Dr. Nzinga Harrison, co-founder and chief medical officer of Eleanor Health. However, it’s not always easy to get this kind of care, and the partnership aims to address that.
“Barriers to care remain – particularly the stigma around being diagnosed with a substance use disorder,” Harrison said. “Eleanor treats members without judgment, recognizing that there is not a straight path to recovery. Relapse is often a normal part of the recovery process and we don’t discharge members if this happens.”
There is no revenue sharing or financial incentives between the companies through the partnership. Patients will either have their care covered by their insurance provider or self-pay, according to Frogel.
Ultimately, the companies aim to ensure their patients “receive a smooth continuum of care at all stages of their mental health journey,” Frogel said.
“When it comes to our physical health the pathways to finding specialist care are a lot clearer whereas those in mental health are somewhat of a blindspot,” he stated. “Through this partnership, we can help bridge the gap that exists between specialty treatment and ongoing counseling.”
Thriveworks also recently launched a partnership with another substance use disorder provider, Ophelia. However, Ophelia specifically focuses on opioid use disorder, while Eleanor addresses a broader range of conditions. The two companies also operate in different parts of the U.S.
Photo: Gerasimov174, Getty Images
