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Championing Mental Health: Your Partnerships May Be Key to Early Intervention

Date: 05/20/26

 Sunflower is dedicated to helping physicians regularly discuss mental health with their patients and providing support and information as they guide patients to additional care when advice and coping strategies aren’t enough.   

Patients are more likely to discuss their emotional well-being and other sensitive topics with their physician than with almost anyone else. Even so, The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that the average time from onset of a mental health condition to treatment is 11 years.

Together we can lower barriers and help individuals who struggle with a mental health condition – and don’t know when or how to ask for help – get the care they need, when they need it.

Remind Sunflower members of the member services number on their ID card. Members can use this number to reach a member services representative who can:

  • Set up appointments to discuss mental health. 
  • Find the right providers for their current needs.
  • Refill prescriptions. 
  • Get support to address alcohol or drug use. 
  • Connect with community resources for help with housing, transportation, and job support. 
  • Discuss steps to help track wellness goals.

Members can also use the number to access a 24/7 behavioral health crisis line and a 24/7 nurse advice line.  

Sunflower members also have access to an online health library 

Members can browse articles, videos, and resources on thousands of health and medication topics including behavioral and mental health conditions.

You may also direct Sunflower members to review their covered benefits, including transportation assistance through the Sunflower health plan website.  

CME-accredited training is available for clinicians and care teams 

Expand your mental and behavioral health knowledge base by taking one of our CME accredited on-demand training courses. Select the courses most relevant to your practice from options such as:  

Clinical Excellence in Mental Health: Enhancing Care, Quality and Engagement Across Primary and Behavioral Health | Centene Clinical Training

Improving Outcomes | Substance Use Treatment Clinical Approaches | Quality Care Across Primary and Behavioral Health | Centene Clinical Training

Free 988 Lifeline materials to display and distribute may be ordered from the SAMHSA online store.

Suicide Safer Care: Suicide Prevention in Primary Care resources produced by the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU). See the new Toolkit for Primary Care Clinicians and Leaders updated on Feb. 25, 2026.

Together, we can help people feel heard and understand their care options so that they can live their best lives. Thank you for your partnership.   

If you have questions about this bulletin or other provider resources, please contact your Provider Relations Representative or call us at the numbers below:

Ambetter from Sunflower Health Plan is underwritten by Celtic Insurance Company, which is a Qualified Health Plan issuer in the Kansas Health Insurance Marketplace. ©2026 Celtic Insurance Company. All rights reserved.