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ValueOptions Links a Healthy Heart to Sound Mental Health; A New Educational Guide Helps Program Administrators and Members Identify and Make Behavioral Changes Necessary to Prevent and Manage Heart Disease

Posted on: Thursday, 29 June 2006, 18:00 CDT

ValueOptions announced today the launch of an integrated cardiovascular/behavioral health initiative for its corporate customers. Titled "Heart and Mind Connections," the new training guide provides information, support and tools for applying a behavioral approach to preventing and managing heart disease, the number one killer of Americans and a leading cause of disability.

Behavioral health issues such as depression, anxiety and chronic stress are often silent contributors to coronary heart disease. Research has shown that people with heart problems are more likely to suffer from depression than otherwise healthy people. Conversely, people with depression are also at greater risk for developing heart disease.

Because the relationship between heart disease and mental health is clear, this intervention program focuses on paying specific attention to the links between emotion, behavior, coping strategies and cardiovascular health. The ValueOptions program not only helps individuals identify the behaviors that need to be changed, but also provides specific tools to help individuals mobilize and make healthy behavioral changes.

"ValueOptions has unparalleled expertise in understanding human behavior and helping individuals modify their behavior," says Christopher Dennis, MD, MBA, vice president and medical/clinical director of ValueOptions' New York City service center and member of the initiative's development team. "Every day, we help individuals improve their emotional and psychological health. By supporting individuals in their efforts to prevent or manage heart disease, we can improve their heart health as well."

The program provides resources and direction to all ValueOptions' commercial clients with the objective of developing a strong outreach initiative in any setting, including the workplace, that links the relationship between cardiovascular health and behavioral health.

The good news is that for many people, heart disease is a preventable illness. For those individuals at risk or diagnosed with coronary heart disease, there are many lifestyle changes and medications that can effectively control the progression of this disease.

"Heart and Mind Connections" is available for viewing on ValueOptions' corporate Web site at www.valueoptions.com.

About ValueOptions

Covering over 24 million lives through a variety of direct contracts with health plans, employers, as well as state and county agencies, ValueOptions is a national managed care company that specializes in disease management for all mental health and chemical dependency diagnoses. ValueOptions supports the unique needs of client organizations with traditional managed care products, integrated behavioral healthcare services, as well as wellness and prevention initiatives and work-life programs. Leveraging a national behavioral health provider network of over 70,000 practitioner locations, ValueOptions puts the clinical well being of our members as our first and foremost priority. Visit www.valueoptions.com for more information.

Source: Business Wire

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