An initial psychiatric evaluation entails a review of the client’s chief complaint, current concerns, history of present illness, psychiatric history, medical history, developmental history, family psychiatric history, and social history. There are other factors that are considered, and medical records are also reviewed. Lab work may also be considered to rule out any organic causes of current symptoms associated with a patient’s mental illness. Medication manage is provided by an on-staff psychiatric nurse specialist to determine whether a medication is indicated for a client who is experiencing difficulties at home, work, school, or in the community. Typical medications addressed through medication management include depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, mood swings, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, attention And concentration issues (ADD/ADHD), and psychotic illnesses, such as schizophrenia and related disorders.

Mattapan Community Health Center (MCHC) has an Office-Based Addiction Treatment Program (OBAT), that offers help, support, understanding and hope to those in need of recovery from substance use disorder. Care is delivered from a multidisciplinary team that consist of physicians, nurses, and social workers. The OBAT program offers primary care, behavioral health and substance use treatment to patients in Mattapan and in the surrounding community. This integrated health care model helps to promote wellness and recovery from substance use disorders, as we strive to treat the whole person and not just the addiction.

Case management services are also available to our patients to help address basic and concrete needs, advocacy, care coordination and community resources for our diverse patient population.

Trauma results from a frightening or scary event, series of events, or set of circumstances experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening with lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being. Our trauma clinician is a licensed mental health professional who provides assessments, outreach, and trauma informed psychotherapy services. The experience of trauma can result in feelings of helplessness, isolated and the loss of power and control. The principles of trauma recovery are the restoration of safety and empowerment. Recovery does not necessarily mean complete freedom from post-traumatic affects but generally it is the ability to live in the present without being overwhelmed by the thoughts and feelings of the past. We also work to engage the community following incidences of trauma through attendance in funeral, initiation and engagement in community meetings, and other forms of collaboration within Mattapan Community.