Guest: Dr. James Polo, Chief Medical Officer at Carelon Behavioral Health in Boston, MA
Website: www.carelonbehavioralhealth.com
While the topic of mental health has become less taboo in recent years, many still struggle to talk about it or seek out help. In 2021, data from the National Institute of Mental Health revealed that only 47% of adults with mental illnesses received mental health services that year. Words matter, and one of the best ways to reduce the stigma around mental health is to talk about it openly, with inclusive language, and encourage others to do the same.
Just in time for Mental Health Awareness month, Dr. James Polo, Chief Medical Officer at Carelon Behavioral Health and a 30-year mental health veteran, discusses the importance of prioritizing your mental health and how to break the stigma by talking about mental health openly.
Spokesperson Background
Dr. James Polo is the Chief Medical Officer at Carelon Behavioral Health. He is responsible for leading the development of CBH’s medical policies, protocols, criteria, and guidelines and specializes in organizational healthcare consulting and hospital and behavioral health system leadership. Dr. Polo has than 30 years of healthcare experience in the commercial and military arenas. Prior to joining CBH, he served as the Executive Medical Director for Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon. There he worked with clinical and business partners to facilitate the optimization of a comprehensive provider network that was member-centric and cost-effective. Dr. Polo also proudly served in the United States Army.
About Carelon Behavioral Health
Carelon Behavioral Health offers clinical mental health and substance use disorder management, a comprehensive employee assistance program, work/life support, specialty programs for autism and depression, and insightful analytics to improve the delivery of care for federal, state and local governments, health plans, and employers. Carelon Behavioral Health has been delivering high-quality behavioral healthcare for more than 40 years across all 50 states and is a division under Carelon, part of the Elevance Health family of brands. For more information, visit www.carelonbehavioralhealth.com or follow us on LinkedIn.