National Council for Mental Wellbeing Launches Leadership Track to Strengthen the Behavioral Health Workforce

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 7, 2026) — The National Council for Mental Wellbeing today announced the launch of its National Council Leadership Track, a progressive leadership development program designed to help behavioral health professionals grow their leadership skills at every stage of their careers while helping organizations build stronger, more resilient workforces.

The launch comes at a critical moment for the behavioral health field. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), approximately 137 million Americans, representing 40% of the U.S. population, live in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas. HRSA projects substantial shortages across multiple behavioral health professions through 2038, including mental health counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, addiction counselors and marriage and family therapists.

Addressing the workforce shortage is a key part of the National Council’s broader vision for the future of mental wellbeing.

“Behavioral health organizations cannot afford to keep losing the talented leaders they have worked so hard to develop,” National Council President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia said. “Recruiting new workers is vital to our field, but we must also retain people at all levels. Giving them pathways to develop their skills through the Leadership Track will help organizations accomplish that goal.”

The Leadership Track includes four connected programs: The Art of Management, Middle Management Academy, Advanced Management Academy and High Performance Leadership Academy. Together, they create a career-long pathway that supports professionals from emerging leadership roles through executive leadership. Participants engage through a combination of self-paced learning, instructor-led training and peer-to-peer collaboration.

Unlike disconnected professional development offerings, the Leadership Track provides a unified framework in which each stage builds upon the previous stage. Individuals gain practical strategies to improve communication, strengthen team performance, lead organizational change and advance their careers. Organizations can use the program to strengthen succession planning, improve retention and develop leadership capacity across their workforce.

Built on more than 25 years of leadership development experience, the Leadership Track reflects the National Council’s conviction that today’s challenges, while significant, are not insurmountable. Through strategic leadership development and workforce investment, organizations can transform obstacles into opportunities, build a stronger future for behavioral health and make mental wellbeing a reality for everyone.

“By investing in leaders at every stage of their journey, we can meaningfully address the workforce shortage and create stronger organizations,” National Council Assistant Vice President for Consulting and Mental Health First Aid Ayla Colella said.

Learn more about the National Council Leadership Track and upcoming training opportunities.