SAMHSA to Build on Partnership With Psychiatry

We thank the estimated nearly 400 individuals and more than 55 organizations that engaged in a robust dialogue with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop our new strategic plan, titled “Leading Change 2.0: Advancing the Behavioral Health of the Nation.”

APA President Paul Summergrad, M.D., offered his critique of our new plan in the September 11 online Psychiatric News (September 19 print edition). His support for our efforts to reduce disparities and the number of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system and recognition of our leadership on integrated care are greatly appreciated. He goes on to call into question our focus on the appropriate medical care of patients with serious mental illness and the development of a physician workforce that is essential for their care.

SAMHSA does not believe we can accomplish what is set forth in our new strategic plan without a focus on the appropriate medical care of patients with serious mental illness and the development of a physician workforce that is essential for their care. Meeting the psychiatric treatment needs for Americans with mental illness and substance use disorders is essential to helping people attain and sustain recovery.

Our Recovery Support strategic initiative specifically notes the critical role that medical treatment plays in attaining and sustaining recovery for people with serious mental illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. This strategic initiative will include action steps such as the implementation of a new $25 million effort, in partnership with the National Institute of Mental Health, to fund early treatment for those with first episodes of serious mental illness via our Mental Health Block Grant program. Further, our Health Care and Health Systems Integration strategic initiative includes the objective to promote “integrated treatment delivery for people with mental illness and substance use conditions” and again specifies the need for medical treatment for people with serious mental illnesses.

We are also excited about our new Workforce Development strategic initiative and how we can strengthen and expand the behavioral health workforce of the nation—including psychiatry. SAMHSA is already partnering with APA to achieve this goal via our 40-year partnership on the Minority Fellowship Program, the HIV/AIDS Training Program, the Recovery to Practice (RTP) initiative, and other efforts. The RTP effort includes a new component to provide clinical-decision support to practicing psychiatrists specifically on medication practices.

The Health Resources and Services Administration, along with SAMHSA, just announced $99 million in new grant awards to train mental health providers, help teachers and others recognize mental health issues in youth and connect them to help, and increase access to mental health services for young people. These funds were included in the President and Vice President’s “Now Is the Time” plan to reduce gun violence by keeping guns out of dangerous hands, increasing access to mental health services, and making schools safer. This announcement comes on the heels of an additional $54.6 million in Affordable Care Act funding to support 221 health centers in 47 states and Puerto Rico to establish or expand behavioral health services for over 450,000 people nationwide. Health centers will use these new funds for efforts such as hiring new mental health professionals, adding mental health and substance use disorder health services, and employing integrated models of primary care.

These new investments in workforce, along with the largest expansion of mental health and substance abuse insurance benefits made possible by the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, will help millions of Americans receive needed medical and preventive care.

SAMHSA looks forward to building on these partnerships with psychiatry so that we can achieve our mission of reducing the impact of substance abuse and mental illness—including serious mental illnesses—on America’s communities.

Pamela S. Hyde, J.D.

Administrator; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration