National Association of State
Mental Health Program Directors
Serving the Needs of the Nation’s
Public Behavioral Health System
Founded in 1959 and based in Alexandria, VA, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) represents the public mental health service delivery system in all states, territories, Pacific Jurisdictions, and the District of Columbia. NASMHPD (pronounced “NASH-bid”) is the only national association to represent state mental health commissioners/directors and their agencies.
What’s New
- The Link Center: Cross-System Strategies for Children with Complex Behavioral Health Needs
The Link Center has released a new publication, Cross-System Strategies to Support Children with Complex Behavioral Health Conditions, authored by Nancy Thaler with contributions from Stacy L. Nonnemacher, PhD. The paper confronts a persistent challenge for states in how to better support children whose needs span multiple systems, including behavioral health, child welfare, Medicaid, developmental disabilities, education, and juvenile justice. Grounded in neuroscience and focused on practical systems change, it offers a framework built on three pillars: a place that is safe, treatment to heal, and opportunities to grow. State leaders, providers, and families will find actionable strategies to strengthen policy, service design, financing, data use, and cross-system collaboration. For more information, visit The Link Center online.
- Expanding Access to Brain Stimulation Therapies for Serious Mental Illness
Advances in neuroscience have demonstrated that many psychiatric symptoms can be approached as brain circuit disorders. These insights have translated into a range of evidence-based interventions—including electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation—that directly modulate these circuits and can produce meaningful clinical improvement, even in individuals who have not benefited from conventional care. Rapid-acting pharmacotherapies such as esketamine also provide important therapeutic benefits through distinct mechanisms. Collectively known as interventional psychiatry, these approaches represent a critical but underutilized component of modern psychiatric treatment.
This new paper briefly outlines the scientific rationale for brain circuit–based care, reviews the evidence for key interventions, and identifies barriers to implementation within public systems. It also proposes a policy framework for state-level action, including infrastructure development, workforce training, and financing strategies to support scalable access.
- Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Services — Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Directions
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve access to and better meet demand for mental health and substance use disorder care. AI tools are available anytime, have no waiting lists, are typically low cost, and can be accessed anonymously. The question is not whether these tools have value; it is whether that value can be realized safely and at scale given concerns about model transparency, decision-making, and accuracy.
This new paper reviews what these technologies can and cannot do, and what it will take to govern them responsibly to realize their positive potential.
- NASMHPD Update – August 21, 2026
- Overcoming My Fear of Tardive Dyskinesia
Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week kicks off the first week of May, as part of Mental Health Awareness Month. NASMHPD is proud to be working on a new initiative to promote routine and consistent screening for Tardive Dyskinesia for individuals with serious mental illness served in state mental health systems. The TD Screening Initiative is informed by voices of lived experience with mental illness and those who care for them. As part of this work, and in honor of TD Awareness Week, we talked to a friend of NASMHPD about their experience overcoming fear of tardive dyskinesia in their journey to accepting help and to recovery.
- CrisisTalk — the podcast — is live.
For over six years, CrisisTalk has been a go-to resource for articles on 988 and mental health and substance use crisis systems. Now, we are pivoting to a podcast format. This includes the same interview-style readers are used to, as well as narrative-driven episodes.
This is a new endeavor and we are learning as we go. Listeners can help by giving us feedback. You can do so by emailing us at editor@crisisnow.com.
Our first series is on AI and mental health. You’ll hear from leaders in the space, like Dr. John Torous, and from guests on how they’re using AI to work through mental health and personal challenges.
You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. That includes Apple, Spotify and iHeart.
- No-Cost Technical Assistance Available Through the State TA Project
Via SAMHSA’s State TA Project, State Mental Health Authorities are invited to request technical assistance and training to support successful program implementation of the mental health block grant. The State TA Project can provide many types of TA, including a mix of in-person, offsite, or virtual, and peer-to-peer options. This TA can help increase capacity to navigate issues and improve practices in many areas. There is no cost to access these services and supports.
Learn more about the State TA Project. If you would like to make a TA or Training request, please send an email to SAMHSAStateTA@jbsinternational.com. If you would like additional information on the TA or Training request process, please contact Timothy.Tunner@nasmhpd.org.