Promoting Access to Mental Health Resources for a Patient Living with Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report

Learning Objectives:

• Identify systemic and structural barriers that individuals with physical disabilities, particularly those with spinal cord injuries, face when accessing mental health care across inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Describe the role of interdisciplinary collaboration—including psychology, psychiatry, therapy services, and leadership—in coordinating mental health care and facilitating psychiatric admission for patients with complex rehabilitation needs.
• Identify actionable strategies that clinical teams can implement to improve mental health care access and continuity for patients with disabilities.