Behavioral Health
Governors play a critical role in addressing behavioral health in their state, including both mental health and substance use disorders. The Behavioral Health Program supports governor’s offices by providing evidence-informed promising and best practices that promote behavioral health to improve the lives and wellbeing of their constituents.
Our Focus Areas
- Evidence based policies for reducing overdose
- Mitigation of trauma and adverse childhood experiences to prevent substance use disorder
- Implementation of a continuum of care to address substance use disorder
- Mental Health Promotion
- Reducing infectious diseases related to drug use
Meet The Team
- Marianne Gibson
Program Director - Dana Heilman
Senior Policy Analyst - Abigail Smith
Policy Coordinator
Behavioral Health Library
Resource Guide on State Actions to Prevent and Mitigate Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma
States are actively engaged in supporting trauma-informed best practices to mitigate the effects of ACEs and trauma and promote resilience for their communities. (Download) In 2021, the National Governors Association ...
Leveraging Telehealth for Justice-involved Populations With Substance Use Disorders
This brief reviews activities undertaken by states to expand the use of telehealth for justice-involved individuals with SUDs during the COVID-19 pandemic, share lessons learned, and highlight considerations for Governors ...
Protecting Behavioral Health During Economic Downturns
Preventing overdose and other drug-related harms is a priority for the nation's Governors, and the illicit supply of drugs remains more lethal than ever. Economic downturns are linked to adverse ...
Strengthening Youth Mental Health: Training and Supporting Caregivers and Educators
The fourth and final roundtable of the National Governors Association 2022-2023 Chair’s Initiative on Strengthening Youth Mental Health was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 18, 2023. NGA Chair New ...
Youth Mental Health: Promoting access and affordability of quality treatment and care
NGA Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer hosted the third convening of the NGA Chair’s Initiative: Strengthening Youth Mental Health, in Detroit, Michigan, from April ...
State and Federal Actions to Respond to Xylazine
Xylazine, also known as “tranq,” is a non-opioid drug commonly used for veterinary purposes which has been showing up more frequently in the illicit drug supply. To address the significant ...
Youth Mental Health: Messaging for Success
As part of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s 2022-2023 Chair’s Initiative on Strengthening Youth Mental Health, the National Governors Association hosted a webinar in partnership with the Frameworks Institute on ...
Youth Mental Health and Substance Use
In a time when the drug supply is more lethal than ever, preventing substance use and mitigating risk among youth is a critical bipartisan priority. (Download) Mental health conditions and ...
Governors Lead the Way on Behavioral Health Workforce Needs
New research from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing shows that 83% of the behavioral health workforce believes providers will not be able to meet the demand for mental health ...
