Name: Massachusetts Association for Mental Health
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MAMH, as a primary convener and facilitator for mental health policy and advocacy issues in the Commonwealth, works in close partnership with numerous organizations to achieve shared goals and objectives. We also advocate, educate, and collaborate with state and federal government entities on mental health policy, program, regulatory and legal issues. The issues MAMH addresses are large and complex, with multifaceted solutions advanced best in collaboration with stakeholder partners. We draw upon and weave together the respective strengths of MAMH and our partners to move the needle on behavioral health reform.

Partnerships in Action

MAMH and its partners have collaborated on key issues and initiatives affecting individuals with or at risk for mental health conditions. Such initiatives include the following:

Parity and Coverage Preservation

MAMH works to ensure that people with mental health and substance use conditions receive the same level of health insurance coverage benefits and access to services as people with physical health conditions, known as parity. MAMH leverages its technical expertise and board network to protect the parity law at the state and federal level, essential health benefits, and the broader provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention

MAMH works to ensure that promotion is an integral part of efforts to advance behavioral health in the Commonwealth. MAMH educates the community about mental health and wellness, addresses stigma, advocates for public policies that address social determinants and strengthen communities, and furthers the integration of social services in primary and behavioral health care.

Early Intervention and Access to Care

MAMH works to ensure access to the full continuum of behavioral health care – prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery support – to advance the health of people at risk for or living with behavioral health conditions. MAMH works collaboratively to raise awareness, address barriers, and further policy and programmatic solutions that provide support and services to Massachusetts residents.

Housing as a Social Determinant of Health

Behavioral Health and Criminal Legal Reform

MAMH works with a broad coalition of advocates to reform Massachusetts’ behavioral health and criminal legal systems to better support people with mental health conditions.

MAMH will continue to support major initiatives, including Massachusetts’ Roadmap to Behavioral Health Reform and implementation of key components of the Mental Health Omnibus Law, to better meet the behavioral health needs of individuals, families, and communities.

MAMH will also continue advocating for adequate and appropriate mental health services in our prisons and jails, reforms at Bridgewater State Hospital to ensure that people served there receive services in a therapeutic, non-prison environment, and adequate funding for pre-release and post-release services to curtail recidivism.

MAMH Perspective

Effective advocacy is dependent upon knowledge, education, communication, consensus building and working collaboratively with partners with similarly aligned missions and goals. MAMH works with a broad range of partners, including government and legislative leaders, provider agencies, people with mental health conditions and their families, and many others. These partnerships are critical to advancing our shared goals and the key to our role as an agent of change for behavioral health system reform.

Below is a list of some of the organizations with whom MAMH works in partnership to further its mission.

Private Advocacy and Policy Organizations and Coalitions

Association for Behavioral Healthcare (ABH)

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation (BCBSMA Foundation)

Bridgewater State Hospital Reform Coalition

C.F. Adams Charitable Trust

Center for Public Representation (CPR)

Children's Mental Health Campaign

Dignity Alliance Massachusetts

Disability Law Center (DLC)

Foley Hoag, LLP

Foundation for MetroWest