The State of Mental Wellbeing: A Podcast on Mental Health and Substance Use

National Council for Mental Wellbeing
  • 4.0 (4)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

The State of Mental Wellbeing: A Podcast on Mental Health & Substance Use is a weekly series from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that explores the people, policies and systems influencing mental health and substance use care across the United States. Hosted by Mohini Venkatesh, chief of staff at the National Council, the podcast brings together leaders, practitioners and advocates working every day to strengthen mental wellbeing in their communities and advance the field. Stream our latest episode wherever you listen to podcasts.

  1. 4h ago

    Mental Health First Aid: A Global Movement

    Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) has become a global movement, helping people build the confidence to recognize mental health challenges, reduce stigma and support one another. This week, leaders from Canada and Ireland share lessons on growth, adaptation and the power of human connection.  Host Mohini Venkatesh speaks with Donal Scanlan of MHFA Ireland and Shane Silver of the Mental Health Commission of Canada about how MHFA has expanded across countries and cultures. They discuss national partnerships, workplace and community engagement, context-aware adaptations and the critical role instructors play in sustaining momentum. The conversation also explores what countries can learn from one another and why courage, vulnerability and connection remain essential to mental wellbeing.  Listeners will learn:  How Mental Health First Aid expands mental health literacy across countries and communities  The importance of partnerships, instructors and context-aware adaptations  Why confidence, vulnerability and human connection are central to reducing stigma  Donal Scanlan is head of MHFA Ireland, with over 27 years of professional experience and study dedicated to mental wellbeing. Shane Silver is a VP at the Mental Health Commission of Canada, leading national initiatives to improve mental health literacy and reduce stigma.  Follow for weekly conversations shaping mental health and substance use care.

  2. Aug 5

    Transforming Rural Mental Health Care: The Promise of CCBHCs

    What does it take to make mental health and substance use care accessible in some of the nation’s most rural communities? This week's episode covers how Westbrook Health Services is rethinking behavioral health care delivery in West Virginia, and why a new approach to funding is creating opportunities for lasting change.  In this episode of The State of Mental Wellbeing, host Mohini Venkatesh sits down with Kevin Trippett, president and CEO of Westbrook Health Services, to discuss how the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model is expanding access to mental health and substance use care across rural West Virginia. Their conversation explores whole-person care, workforce challenges, community partnerships, innovations in crisis response, and how sustainable funding is helping providers move from survival mode to long-term impact.  Listeners will learn:  How CCBHCs expand rural mental health and substance use care  The importance of care coordination, peer support and partnerships  How prospective payment supports whole-person care and innovation  Kevin Trippett has served as President and CEO of Westbrook Health Services since 2017. He has been with Westbrook since 1999, previously serving as accountant and CFO. In 2018, he received West Virginia Executive magazine’s Sharp Shooters Award.  Follow for weekly conversations shaping mental health and substance use care.

  3. Jul 22

    How New York Is Expanding Mental Health First Aid

    In this episode of The State of Mental Wellbeing, host Mohini Venkatesh chats with Katie Oldakowski of the Mental Health Association in New York State and Tramaine EL-Amin of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing about practical ways to expand mental health education in your community.  How can your community turn Mental Health First Aid from training into a movement? Mohini, Katie and Tramaine explore Mental Health First Aid, New York’s statewide approach to mental wellbeing, the power of local champions and partnerships, and a new implementation road map designed to help communities scale sustainable, evidence-informed change. They examine New York’s statewide Teen Mental Health First Aid initiative for 10th graders and share how trusted local voices strengthen training.  Listeners will learn:  How states can start small, build partnerships, learn from setbacks and embed MHFA into a larger public health strategy  New York’s Teen MHFA campaign, which aims to reach approximately 186,000 10th-grade students over five years  About the forthcoming Humana-funded Communitywide MHFA Implementation Road Map  Katie Oldakowski is the senior director of training and programs at the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS), where she leads statewide mental health initiatives focused on literacy, policy and advocacy.   Follow for weekly conversations shaping mental health and substance use care.

  4. Jul 15

    Innovation in Addiction Treatment: Where the Field Is Going

    Guest host Philip Rutherford and John Driscoll, president and CEO of Caron Treatment Centers, discuss evidence-based addiction treatment, the role of brain health, and emerging innovations like GLP-1 medications and AI-assisted care.  What does the future of addiction treatment look like? In this episode, guest host Philip Rutherford sits down with Caron Treatment Centers President and CEO John Driscoll to explore how addiction care is evolving through brain-based science, objective outcome measures and emerging innovations. They discuss everything from GLP-1 medications and AI-assisted care to gambling addiction and the ongoing fight against stigma — while making the case for treating substance use disorder like any other chronic health condition.  Objective measures of brain health may improve outcomes, reimbursement and clinical decision-making.  Emerging innovations include GLP-1 medications, AI-assisted care, precision medicine and neurological assessment tools.  Prevention and early intervention could be the next frontier for behavioral health.  John Driscoll is president and CEO of Caron Treatment Centers. He currently serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers and has over 30 years of experience in the addiction treatment field.    Follow for weekly conversations shaping mental health and substance use care.

  5. Jul 8

    Doing Good Doesn't Mean Doing Everything with Shankar Vedantam

    Mohini Venkatesh and Shankar Vedantam explore how the hidden brain shapes the way we think, respond to uncertainty and decide what actions are within our control.  Recorded live at NatCon26, this episode of The State of Mental Wellbeing features Shankar Vedantam, founder of Hidden Brain Media, in conversation with host Mohini Venkatesh. Together, they explore the unconscious forces that influence our thoughts, choices and reactions; why uncertainty can feel overwhelming; and how focusing on what we can control can help turn knowledge, values and intention into meaningful action.  Listeners will learn:  How unconscious “hidden brain” processes shape attention, behavior and decision-making.  Why focusing on what is within our control can help us navigate uncertainty and change.  How small, values-driven actions can still matter when larger problems feel overwhelming.  Shankar Vedantam is the founder of Hidden Brain Media and host of the acclaimed Hidden Brain podcast and radio show, which explores human behavior, psychology and the unseen forces that shape our lives.  Follow for weekly conversations shaping mental health and substance use care.

  6. Jul 1

    Innovation in Action: Expanding What’s Possible for Nonprofits

    Former National Council President and CEO Linda Rosenberg joins Chuck Ingoglia, current President and CEO, to discuss the evolving landscape of behavioral health. Together, they share insights on leadership, innovation and advocacy for advancing mental health care. Host Mohini Venkatesh sits down with Linda Rosenberg and Chuck Ingoglia to explore behavioral health leadership, nonprofit strategy and innovation. Drawing on decades of experience at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, they discuss the impact of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), the role of technology in expanding access to care and strategies for advancing mental health policy and funding. This episode offers practical insights for behavioral health professionals, advocates and policymakers working to build more fair, connected and effective systems of care.  Listeners will learn:  Behavioral health evolved from industry builders to market strategizers, emphasizing integration and consumer voice.  CCBHCs drive scalable, innovative care with evidence-based practices and sustainable financing.  AI and virtual reality enhance care delivery, transparency, and support for clinicians and patients.  Linda Rosenberg is co-founder of Behavioral Health Strategy and former CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, where she led transformative growth and advanced major initiatives including Mental Health First Aid USA and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.  Follow for weekly conversations shaping mental health and substance use care.

  7. Jun 24

    Data-driven Advocacy: Missouri’s CCBHC Success Story

    On this episode of The State of Mental Wellbeing, MohiniVenkatesh sits down with Natalie Cook from Missouri Behavioral Health Council to explore how Missouri became a national leader in Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs). Natalie shares how Missouri expanded statewide access to mental health and substance use treatment throughschool-based services, jail partnerships, data-driven advocacy and a prospective payment system. The conversation highlights how collaboration among providers, state leaders and advocates helped reduce stigma, strengthen care coordination and build a sustainable behavioral health model.

    Data-driven Advocacy: Missouri’s CCBHC Success Story

  8. Jun 17

    A Global Approach to Addressing Mental Health & Substance Use

    In this episode, Mohini Venkatesh sits down with Steve Appleton of the Global Leadership Exchange (GLE) and Chuck Ingoglia of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to explore how global collaboration can strengthen mental health care, substance use treatment and behavioral health systems. They discuss workforce shortages, task sharing, peer support, crisis response, leadership development and cross-sector innovation, offering practical insights for improving access to care, community-based services and systemwide outcomes.  This conversation highlights how global knowledge exchange can advance mental health policy, behavioral health innovation and substance use care. From task sharing and peer-led crisis services to leadership development and workforce strategy, the episode explores scalable solutions for meeting rising demand.  How global knowledge exchange can strengthen mental health systems, substance use services and behavioral health leadership Why task sharing, peer support specialists and nontraditional workforce models are critical to the future of mental health careWhat leaders can do to improve crisis response, expand access to care and embed lived experience into service design Steve Appleton serves as President and Chief Executive of Global Leadership Exchange (GLE). Prior to this, Steve was Managing Director of a consultancy and research practice specializing in work relating to mental health, housing, disability and older age. He has worked nationally and internationally on population-based mental health improvement programs in cities and urban regions. Alongside his role with GLE Steve also serves as Chair of the Board of the Association of Mental Health Providers in England and Wales, and Chair of the Board of Beacon CHC.  Follow for weekly conversations shaping mental health and substance use care.

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The State of Mental Wellbeing: A Podcast on Mental Health & Substance Use is a weekly series from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that explores the people, policies and systems influencing mental health and substance use care across the United States. Hosted by Mohini Venkatesh, chief of staff at the National Council, the podcast brings together leaders, practitioners and advocates working every day to strengthen mental wellbeing in their communities and advance the field. Stream our latest episode wherever you listen to podcasts.

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