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America’s “sick care” system is failing the American people when it comes to mental health. We agree with the Trump Administration’s belief that better is possible if we address the root causes driving our mental health crisis within our broader crisis of chronic illness.

As the Chief Executive Officers of 15 of our country’s leading mental health organizations, we represent millions of members, hundreds of thousands of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and thousands of communities, hospital provider systems, and voters in all 50 states and territories. We are not just advocates; we are solution finders, innovators, and implementers, deeply committed to making whole-person health a reality, as the number of people receiving mental health treatment rose to nearly 59 million in 2023, as detailed in findings from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

We outline a vision for a truly future-ready mental health system where all people can not only be free from illness and avoidable disability but also experience a high quality of life and well-being by addressing the factors driving our chronic care crises with a foundational commitment to mental health. This includes healthy, connected, and supportive environments developed in communities across the country.

We envision a nation where mental health is universally recognized as an inextricable and foundational component of health. Our nation stands at a critical juncture and a potential tipping point. We have the opportunity to make strategic decisions and create a future-ready system that increases accessibility, affordability, and accountability. We want to work in partnership to ensure that what is working is not inadvertently cut or undermined. We want to ensure that funding and operational decisions to improve efficiency and enhance health outcomes have the intended consequences.

For example, since 2018, through investments begun in the first Trump Administration and carried forward by four Congresses, we have seen deaths from suicide among youth drop over 12% in the aggregate. While suicide hasn’t decreased among all youth populations or age groups, this decrease illustrates what is possible. As Congress moves forward with its oversight of federal funding and considers potential structural changes within executive departments, including HHS, we call upon you to ensure these decisions are driven by long-term thinking that prioritizes both human well-being and public cost burdens and are not solely driven by short-term budget targets.

We ask that Congress pause and center crucial discussions around a comprehensive, data-driven needs analysis aimed at improving health outcomes for all Americans. A robust federal structure with dedicated expertise remains essential for guiding and supporting national mental health efforts.

Building a future-proof mental health system necessitates fundamental shifts:

Mental Health is Health: Addressing mental and behavioral health needs goes hand-in-hand with our ability to tackle the root causes of all chronic diseases, including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. A future system must incentivize and support integrated whole-person care to improve well-being across the lifespan. Mental and physical health are inextricably linked. Fundamental shifts include:   

1. Prioritizing Prevention and Early Intervention: Preventing illness and disability is more cost-effective and humane than treating crises or chronic conditions. We should emphasize healthy diets, sleep, exercise, and early screening to identify emerging illnesses while valuing individual differences. Relying on research to inform science-based strategies to promote mental health is essential.
   
   
2. Ensuring Access, Affordability and Accountability: Historically, public health and mental health spending and implementation have been siloed, often working on parallel tracks in communities. Now is the time to disrupt those silos while preserving programs set forth in law, and giving states more flexibility in targeting community needs, and aligning financial incentives and value with effective care and outcomes that matter. Our incentive structures must pivot to embrace prevention and early intervention.
   
   
3. Building a Sustainable Workforce: The number one issue is the inability to find timely and affordable mental health resources. A resilient mental health system depends on a robust, well-supported, and fairly compensated workforce, and expanding insurance coverage for the full continuum of providers. We urge Congress to maintain investments in workforce development and take up new opportunities to improve competition and reduce barriers to access through sensible regulations and deregulation.
   
   
4. Harnessing Innovation: Technology and AI offer powerful tools to supplement — not supplant — our dedicated workforce, enhancing diagnostic capabilities, extending reach, and improving the efficiency of care delivery. We must foster an environment that encourages responsible innovation in mental health care.
   
   
5. Embracing Discovery: Advancing our understanding and treatment of mental health conditions requires a steadfast commitment to research. Robust funding for scientific inquiry is crucial to developing novel and more effective treatments, pioneering innovative methods of treatment and care delivery, and ultimately, improving outcomes for all individuals affected by mental illness. This critical investment will fuel necessary breakthroughs.
   
   
6. Enhancing Transparency to Improve Outcomes: Stakeholders, including consumers, employers, providers, and payers, struggle to determine available care and its effectiveness. We need to make data actionable so stakeholders can connect with care and assess its suitability. This requires better measurement infrastructure, quality measures, and accessible dashboards to guide decision-making.
   
   

Mental health is central to the vitality and resilience of our nation. Achieving ambitious goals, such as “Making America Healthy Again” and reducing chronic disease — depends on prioritizing access to effective mental and behavioral health resources and services people need to achieve optimal health.

Now is the time to meet the moment and forge ahead with foresight. We urge Congressional leaders to join us in this crucial mission to renew our commitment to mental health, build systems that work for the people, and create a future where every American can thrive.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Robert Gebbia, CEO

American Psychiatric Association, Marketa M. Wills, MD, MBA, FAPA, CEO & Medical Director

American Psychological Association, Arthur C. Evans, Jr., PhD, CEO and EVP

Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, Danna Mauch, PhD, President and CEO

Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Andy Keller, PhD, President and CEO

Mental Health America, Schroeder Stribling, MSW, President and CEO

National Alliance on Mental Illness, Daniel H. Gillison, Jr., CEO

National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Shawn Coughlin, President and CEO

National Association of Social Workers, Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW, CEO

National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Charles Ingoglia, MSW, President and CEO

One Mind, Kathy Pike, CEO

Peg’s Foundation, Rick Kellar, MBA, President and CEO

Steinberg Institute, Karen Larsen, CEO

The Kennedy Forum, Rebecca O. Bagley, President and CEO

Treatment Advocacy Center, Lisa Dailey, Executive Director

CONTACT: Tyler Norris, Co-Founder & Director, CEO Alliance for Mental Health