Blog

Celebrating Our 2025 Awards of Excellence Winners

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing is about members, and NatCon25 was about celebrating our members and the people who work at those organizations.

Here’s One Simple Step We Can Take to Help One Another

VIP Community Services President and CEO Debbian Fletcher-Blake knew her organization made the right call to offer Mental Health First Aid training to her entire staff this year, when she heard that the course helped a human resources employee support a colleague.

Prevention Isn’t What It Used to Be, and That’s Progress

Substance use prevention has changed. Gone are the days of simplistic “Just Say No” campaigns and school assemblies that failed to address real-world challenges. Prevention today is more dynamic, personal and grounded in science, identity and lived experience. It is about equipping youth, not just warning them. Prevention now celebrates…

Beyond the Diagnosis: Understanding and Supporting Mothers With Substance Use Disorders

The journey to recovery for pregnant and postpartum women experiencing substance use disorders (SUDs) is often complicated by stigma, fear and fragmented care systems. Many expectant mothers delay or avoid critical prenatal care and treatment due to negative experiences with health care providers in the past and the pervasive fear…

Quitting Is Strength: Changing the Narrative on Tobacco Use in the Military

What if the greatest threat to our veterans’ health isn’t on the battlefield, but in their pockets?For decades, tobacco companies worked hard to associate their products with military service. They handed out free cigarettes to troops during wartime. They sponsored events on military bases. They sold products at steep discounts…

Partner Perspectives: Up to the Test? Examining Alternate Pathways to Licensure

We are experiencing a severe and sustained mental health workforce shortage in the United States. (“Shortage” probably doesn’t carry enough of a negative connotation, frankly; the Health Resources and Services Administration [HRSA] prefers the word “crisis.”) And on the current trajectory, it’s likely to get worse,…

NatCon25 Award Winner Spotlight: Miracle Akortha

Each year at NatCon, we recognize and celebrate individuals who are making a positive and permanent impact in their community. This year, we are proud to present a Peer Specialist of the Year Award to Miracle Akortha, PSS, MHPS, CFP, a peer specialist supervisor…

NatCon25 Award Winner Spotlight: Virna Little

Each year at NatCon, we recognize and celebrate individuals whose passion and purpose are creating a lasting impact in their community. This year, we are proud to present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Virna Little, PsyD, LCSW-R, SAP, CCM, cofounder of…

NatCon25 Award Winner Spotlight: Anthony Kohl

Each year at NatCon, we recognize and celebrate individuals who go above and beyond to help people in their community heal. This year, we are proud to present a Peer Specialist of the Year Award to Anthony Kohl, a peer coordinator for…

Perspectives Blog: Choosing the Right EHR Connection Type for Your Behavioral Health AI Solution: Integrated, Embedded or Built-In?

From what we hear in the market, one of the biggest barriers to artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in behavioral health is making the solution work in tandem with existing tech workflows — especially when it comes to your electronic health records (EHR).We get it. One of the most compelling AI…