Measure Description
This measure represents the unique number of individuals with a mental health diagnosis receiving at least one service each month through the San Francisco Health Network (SFHN). In this context, “unique” means that an individual is counted only once during the month for this metric, regardless of how many mental health services received.
Individuals may receive a variety of mental health services including:
- Behavioral health in primary care
- Outpatient, outreach, linkage, and residential treatment in specialty mental health care
- Inpatient treatment
- Services provided in the private provider network, at Laguna Honda Hospital, and at ZSFG for jail health clients
The monthly count of individuals receiving mental health treatment services in the SFHN is an output measure tracked by the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Behavioral Health Services (BHS). This measure helps the City track the expansive delivery of mental health treatment services across the SFHN.
Why this Measure is Important
In October 2022, DPH and Mayor London Breed introduced the City's "Overdose Prevention Plan" to reduce overdose deaths and address racial disparities. The plan builds on the City's previous and existing efforts, such as the expansion of mental health and substance use services for people experiencing homelessness under Mental Health San Francisco.
Tracking the count of individuals receiving mental health treatment services at SFHN helps the City track its progress in expanding the delivery of mental health treatments to accomplish goals set forth in the plan.
The interactive chart below presents the monthly count of individuals receiving mental health treatment services in the SFHN.
The chart’s legend is below:
- Y-axis: Count of individuals receiving mental health treatment services
- X-axis: Calendar year
Mental Health Treatment Services in the SFHN
Data notes and sources
Data notes and sources
This measure counts unique individuals diagnosed with a mental health disorder receiving care among a variety of treatment settings across the SFHN. Patients/clients may access multiple services over the reporting period, however each individual is counted only one time for this metric.
Data is sourced from the SFHN electronic health record (EHR) system called “Epic” and from the Behavioral Health EHR called “Avatar”; DPH is working to migrate all BHS metrics to Epic by the end of 2024.
Epic substance use data are pulled based on ICD-10 mental health diagnoses codes for each patient. Data from Avatar are pulled based on a code that distinguishes substance use from mental health services.
Mental health respite and most services in residential care facilities, prevention, vocational, peer-based and community based mental health promotion programs are not included in the metric at this time.
Data lag: A lag of four months is needed for the monthly count to stabilize. For example, January’s data will be available in April.
Monthly Scorecard vs. Fiscal Year Actuals: The numbers displayed on the Public Health Scorecard page represents a moving, monthly average of unique individuals served from the beginning of the Fiscal Year. This number may differ from reported year-end actuals due to unique individuals counted within a year-long timeframe rather than monthly.
Data Notes and Sources
This measure counts unique individuals diagnosed with a mental health disorder receiving care among a variety of treatment settings across the SFHN. Patients/clients may access multiple services over the reporting period, however each individual is counted only one time for this metric.
Data is sourced from the SFHN electronic health record (EHR) system called “Epic” and from the Behavioral Health EHR called “Avatar”; DPH is working to migrate all BHS metrics to Epic by the end of 2024.
Epic substance use data are pulled based on ICD-10 mental health diagnoses codes for each patient. Data from Avatar are pulled based on a code that distinguishes substance use from mental health services.
Mental health respite and most services in residential care facilities, prevention, vocational, peer-based and community based mental health promotion programs are not included in the metric at this time.
Data lag: A lag of four months is needed for the monthly count to stabilize. For example, January’s data will be available in April.
Monthly Scorecard vs. Fiscal Year Actuals: The numbers displayed on the Public Health Scorecard page represents a moving, monthly average of unique individuals served from the beginning of the Fiscal Year. This number may differ from reported year-end actuals due to unique individuals counted within a year-long timeframe rather than monthly.
How Performance is Measured
Calculation methodology: Mental health data are pulled from SFHN's electronic health record system for all departments identified as Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) or based on ICD-10 mental health diagnosis codes for each patient seen outside of PCBH. Patients/clients may access multiple services over the reporting period, however, each individual is counted only one time for this metric.
Reporting for this measure began in July 2023. Historical data was provided for each month through March 2023.
The monthly count of unique clients with a mental health diagnosis receiving treatment services has remained relatively constant.
Additional Information
- To learn more about the mental health and substance use services available to San Franciscans through DPH's Behavior Health division, visit Behavioral Health's website.
- Read the City's Overdose Prevention Plan published in 2022.
- Visit San Francisco’s open data portal to view or download the Scorecard Measures data set.
City Performance Scorecards
This page is part of the City Performance Scorecards.
Return to the Public Health Scorecards Homepage.
Return to the City Performance Scorecards Home Page.