The National Council for Mental Wellbeing advocates for equity in mental health and substance abuse treatment.
By Jenna Hughes
Ongoing post-pandemic social challenges have resulted in increased mental health and substance abuse issues across the U.S. Mental illnesses are among one the most common health conditions in the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 1 in 5 adults are currently living with one or more mental illnesses. Mental health and wellbeing impact how a person thinks, feels, and acts, and encompasses an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing needs.
The accessibility of mental health and substance abuse treatment is therefore exceptionally important to leading a healthy life. Nearly 30 million people across the U.S., however, don’t have access to affordable, comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment, according to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
To address this gap, The National Council for Mental Wellbeing works to ensure that mental wellbeing is a reality for everyone. The 501 (c) (3) nonprofit association is the unifying voice of nonprofits and organizations delivering mental health and substance use recovery services throughout the U.S.
By driving policy and social change, The National Council for Mental Wellbeing advocates for equitable access to mental health services on behalf of more than 3,400 mental health and substance use treatment organizations. It serves more than 10 million children, adults, and families in total.
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing aims to build a greater overall national capacity for care delivery. Through the support of mental health organizations and investing in the workforce, The National Council promotes mental wellness as a core component of health care. To achieve this, the organization advocates for policy change and support to strengthen the substance use and mental health safety-net system, invest in provider capacity, and increase health industry-wide mental health literacy.
The National Council’s industry initiatives
The National Council of Mental Wellbeing’s focus areas for supporting the mental health industry include public policy and advocacy, workforce development, improving public health, the equity of mental health access, and integrated healthcare initiatives.
The organization employs industry-specific expertise to transform the behavioral health field, empowering mental wellness organizations to succeed through its tailored consulting and training services. Through programs on critical topics including Crisis Response, high-performance leadership academies, National Mental Health Workforce Acceleration, Harm Reduction and Public Safety, an Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Resource Hub, and more, the National Council guides mental health organizations on the most updated industry practices.
Integrated health care training provided through the National Council also offers healthcare organizations with the building blocks needed to address mental health and substance abuse so that patients’ whole health needs are covered.
Mental wellness training for healthcare organizations includes everything from guidance through team-based care and shared decision-making to bridging the gap of physical and behavioral healthcare delivery silos. Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) consulting additionally equips organizations with the skills and processes needed to successfully implement SBRIT models.
Navigating industry challenges
The ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to cause workforce shortages to be a crisis within the mental health field. According to the Bureau of Health Workforce, more than half (169 million) of the U.S. population lives in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, as of December of 2023. The National Council for Mental Wellbeing addresses these disparities by leading the delivery of capacity-building research, resources, and tools to advance workforce development nationally and advocate for supportive policies at the federal and local levels.
The organization’s workforce development goals also include the education and training of current and future members of the mental health treatment workforce. The National Council assists Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), which are currently revolutionizing behavioral healthcare and strengthening health services. CCBHCs are specially designated clinics with the funding and framework to offer mental health services regardless of someone’s diagnosis or insurance status. The National Council’s consultants help mental health and substance abuse organizations meet the CCBHC requirements defined by SAMHSA and the state through finance, service delivery, and partner collaboration assistance.
Mental wellness priorities
Ongoing efforts to support the mental health and wellness industry include The National Council’s Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program, which teaches individuals and organizations how to assist and support patients that may be experiencing a mental health or substance abuse challenges.
Through enrollment in an early-intervention course administered virtually or in-person by the National Council, participants learn the skills needed to recognize and respond to the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges. The course covers common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance abuse challenges, how to interact with a person in crisis, and how to connect a person with help, as well as expanded content on trauma, substance use, and self-care. The training also provides resources on how all people can provide an individual with initial mental wellbeing support, until the individual can find appropriate professional help.
The organization additionally provides dynamic programming to build public health’s capacity to address persistent health disparities in the industry. As an organization, The National Council raises awareness about health care inequities and provides members with comprehensive support to tackle health equity issues.
Webinars, tools, and other resources on health equity are aimed at supporting mental wellness organizations in addressing racial inequities and associated stigmas leading to mental health and substance abuse treatment disparities. The goal of this training is to advance health equity in integrated care settings and expand access to comprehensive, coordinated mental health care.
The National Council’s proposed actions related to health equity include advancing policies that bolster substance use disorder prevention, care, and recovery, protecting and growing funding for mental health awareness training programs, expanding access to telehealth, and more; all with the goal of working toward ensuring mental wellbeing as a reality for everyone.