COMDTINST 6000.5 — Behavioral Health

COMDTINST 6000.5 governs Coast Guard policy and standards for behavioral health referral, evaluation, treatment, and management.

Search COMDTINST 6000.5

  • Publication number: COMDTINST 6000.5
  • Title: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
  • Date: 9/13/2022
  • Proponent: CG-11

View COMDTINST 6000.5 on armypubs.army.mil


It addresses Operational Behavioral Health, behavioral health services, care coordination, mobile medical units, and behavioral health personnel. It prohibits retaliation for seeking care and requires privacy protections, prompt access, and medical and command management.

Applies to: This policy applies to active duty members at all times, including reservists on active duty, and other service members assigned to duty with the Coast Guard.

Topics covered

  • Behavioral health policy
  • Behavioral health services
  • Behavioral health personnel
  • Care coordination
  • Binnacle List
  • Mobile Medical Unit
  • Operational Behavioral Health
  • Uniformed BH Personnel

Questions and answers

What happens if a member faces retaliation for seeking behavioral health care?

Retaliation, reprisal, or retribution against members for seeking assistance and asking for mental and behavioral health care is strictly prohibited. (paragraph 5)

Which medical standards apply to Coast Guard accession and retention decisions for behavioral health conditions?

References (b) and (c) must be used for Coast Guard accession and retention medical standards for mental and behavioral health conditions. (paragraph 4)

What privacy requirements apply to behavioral health information?

All Coast Guard personnel involved in the implementation of BH services shall ensure that the information available to them is treated in accordance with all relevant Coast Guard policy and federal laws and regulations regarding the protection of privacy and medical/health information, including References (a) through (k).

How quickly should behavioral health care be made available?

All members, commands, medical staff and BH Personnel shall avoid any delay in actualizing BH care.

How are records created under COMDTINST 6000.5 managed?

Records created as a result of this Instruction, regardless of format or media, must be managed in accordance with the records retention schedules located on the Records Resource Center SharePoint Online site: https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/cg61/CG611/SitePages/Home.aspx .

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