The Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) is a nonprofit coalition of national organizations representing people with mental health and substance use conditions, family members and caregivers, providers of mental health and substance use treatment and support, advocates, and other stakeholders committed to strengthening Americans’ access to mental health and substance use care. As trusted leaders in the field, our 100+ member organizations are dedicated to elevating the national conversation around mental health and substance use. Together, we work to advance federal policies that support prevention, early intervention, treatment, crisis response, and recovery services and supports.
MHLG Principles
Board of Directors
Chair, Laurel Stine, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Vice Chair, Reyna Taylor, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Treasurer, Andrew Strickland, American Psychological Association
Secretary, Keygan Miller, The Trevor Project
Directors
- Samuel Hewitt, American Nurses Association
- Natalie Tietjen, Sandy Hook Promise
- Michale Linskey, National Alliance on Mental Illness
- David Koss, SMART Recovery
- Mary Giliberti, Mental Health America
- Cynthia Whitney, Children’s Hospital Association
- Peggy Tighe, National Disability Rights Network
- Katrina Velasquez, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance
- Rebecca Murrow Klein, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute
- Jonah Cunningham, National Association of County Behavioral and Developmental Disability Directors; National Association for Rural Mental Health
- Dina Kastner, National Association of Social Workers
MHLG Bylaws
What We Do
The MHLG is a forum for collaboration among the leading national mental health and addiction-focused organizations. Together, we provide policymakers with information and support in advancing our shared policy priorities. The MHLG hosts congressional staff briefings to share information on trends and best practices in the field; provides annual recommendations on mental health and addiction funding in the federal appropriations bills; writes letters to Congress outlining our position on important legislation or offering suggestions for improving proposed policies; and more.
The MHLG has two key committees that provide information and resources on current issues:
Health Policy Committee
- For over 20 years, the health policy committee of the MHLG has provided a space for members to meet monthly to discuss legislative and public policy issues within a health policy committee. The monthly meetings are routinely held on the first Friday, from 10:30am-noon, and have been virtual via Zoom since April 2020. Previously, meetings were held at the American Psychological Association, conveniently located near Union Station. These meetings typically include congressional or federal agency staff and external experts as invited speakers.
- Co-chairs: Cynthia Whitney, Children’s Hospital Association; Jen Snow, National Association on Mental Illness; Maeghan Gilmore, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness; Katrina Velasquez, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance
Budget and Appropriations Committee
- This committee convenes MHLG members with a strong interest in federal appropriations and is tasked with developing the yearly MHLG Appropriation Recommendations for programs under the Substances Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
- Co-chairs: David Koss, SMART Recovery; Natalie Tietjen, Sandy Hook Promise; Adriiana Lagorio, National Council on Problem Gambling; Dana Doran, American Psychiatric Association
In 2021, the MHLG formed workgroups that discuss policy, write letters and provide information/expertise to the Health Policy, and Budget & Appropriations Committee:
- Telehealth Workgroup brings together MHLG members interested in policies to advance telehealth within federal programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial plans, and to ensure permanent access to a wide array of tele-mental and behavioral health services, including audio-only.
Co-liaisons: Mikael Troubh, American Psychiatric Association - Parity Workgroup brings together MHLG members with a strong interest in supporting enforcement — and expansion — of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. The workgroup discusses ongoing parity compliance issues, improving oversight and enforcement by state and federal regulators, strengthening Parity Act requirements, and expanding its protections to all Americans.
Co-liaisons: Lauren Finke, The Kennedy Forum; Tim Clement, Mental Health America; David Lloyd, Inseparable - Peer Supports Workgroup is focused on tracking legislative activity related to several areas of peer support and workforce issues. The workgroup also collaborates with federal agencies on shared concerns such as training, certification and workforce development.
Co-liaisons: Caren Howard, Mental Health America; Joy Burkhard, Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health - Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services Workgroup brings together MHLG members whose work supports suicide prevention programs, research, and awareness.The workgroup analyzes and supports different legislative priorities and federal initiatives that fund research and expand or create suicide prevention strategies and crisis care response systems across all populations.
Co-liaisons: Emily Feltren, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Jen Snow, National Alliance on Mental Illness; Julio Abreu, American Psychological Association - Child, Adolescent and Education Workgroup brings together MHLG members with a strong interest in advocating for increased access to mental and behavioral health services for our nation’s youth. The workgroup meets to share information and discuss opportunities and strategies to support federal policies and initiatives that address the mental health needs of young people in schools, hospitals, college campuses, and community-based settings.
Co- liaisons: Caren Howard, Mental Health America; Maria Cornell, National Association of School Psychologists; Natalie Tietjen, Sandy Hook Promise; Joanna Rosen, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Behavioral Health Workforce Workgroup brings together MHLG members with a strong interest in supporting the mental health and substance use treatment workforce. The workgroup convenes to discuss and support federal policy initiatives aimed at developing, attracting, and retaining a robust mental health and substance use workforce, as well as addressing burnout and promoting mental wellbeing within the workforce.
Co-liaisons: Peter Delia, National Council for Mental Wellbeing; Aaron Walker, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors - Bidirectional Integrated Care Workgroup brings together MHLG members with a strong interest in advocating for federal health policies, legislation and regulations aimed at supporting and incentivizing integrated care. This includes the integration of behavioral health services into medical settings (BHI), and the integration of general healthcare into specialty behavioral settings (GHI). The workgroup will convene to discuss and support federal policy initiatives on new methods of payment for integrated care services; establishment of consensus quality measures for bi-directional integrative services; professional development of an integrated care workforce; and increased federal research funding for new strategies/approaches for integrated care and other relevant matters integral to the integration of behavioral and general health care.
Co-liaisons: Becky Yowell, American Psychiatric Association; Julio Abreu, American Psychological Association; Brett Beckerson National Council for Mental Wellbeing; Florence Fee, NHMH – No Health without Mental Health - Veterans and Military Workgroup brings together MHLG members to support the mental and behavioral health of Veterans, service members, and their families. The Workgroup will seek to advance shared advocacy goals and provide greater awareness for all members about relevant legislation and policy initiatives.
Co-liaisons: Bill White, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Conwell Smith, American Psychological Association
For More Information
General Inquiries: Laurel Stine at lstine@afsp.org
Membership: Keygan Miller at keygan.miller@thetrevorproject.org