On Nov. 4, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing set four policy priorities for the 120th Congress and pledged to work with lawmakers from both parties to expand access to mental health and substance use care.
The Washington, D.C.-based organization represents about 3,000 mental health and substance use treatment organizations. It released the agenda one day after the Nov. 3 elections. Over the next two years, the National Council said it will work with Congress and the administration to:
- Protect access to care by improving coverage and expanding community-based services, including the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic model.
- Build a more integrated system of care that spans prevention, crisis response, treatment and recovery.
- Strengthen the behavioral health workforce so providers can recruit, retain and support the teams their communities need.
- Modernize financing and care delivery to improve quality and bring effective approaches to more people.
The organization said the field enters the new Congress with fewer resources and rising demand for care. States and community providers are preparing for reduced federal Medicaid funding, and a persistent workforce shortage limits how many patients providers can serve.
The National Council pointed to past bipartisan wins as a model. Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, which Congress created through bipartisan legislation in 2014, now operate in 46 states and the District of Columbia. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline also launched with bipartisan support.
Since launching in July 2022, more than 23 million people have contacted the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, according to a KFF policy analysis publiushed July 14. National call, text and chat volume in March 2026 was 15% higher than a year earlier and nearly 50% higher than two years earlier.
At the Becker's Fall Behavioral Health Summit, taking place November 4–5 in Chicago, behavioral health leaders and executives will explore strategies for expanding access to care, integrating services, addressing workforce challenges and leveraging innovation to improve outcomes across the behavioral health continuum. Apply for complimentary registration now.
