Behavioral Health Innovation Grant: Delivering Behavioral Health Supports to Older Adults in the Community

In partnership with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the MA Councils on Aging launched a Behavioral Health Innovation grant program to support new strategies to deliver behavioral health supports to older adults in the community.

New Elder Mental Health Outreach Team and Behavioral Health Innovation grant awardees announced

MAMH’s Older Adult Behavioral Health Network led a successful advocacy campaign to more than double state funding for mental health outreach and support programs for older adults, resulting in 18 grants awarded to improve older adult access to behavioral health support.

FY23 Massachusetts State Budget Prioritizes Behavioral Health

On July 28, 2022, Governor Charlie Baker signed the fiscal year 2023 (FY23) budget for the state of Massachusetts, which reflects the prioritization of many aspects of behavioral health for people of all ages in the Commonwealth.

Benefits of Mental Health Omnibus Legislation Will be Felt, by People of All Ages, for Years to Come

Passage of a comprehensive and thoughtful mental health omnibus bill will provide people with a range of critical behavioral health supports, services, and protections.

An Impactful First Year: OABHN Anniversary

It’s been one year since MAMH launched the Older Adult Behavioral Health Network (OABHN) to elevate the importance of older adult behavioral health across the Commonwealth.

The Tragedy at Uvalde

Like all of you, we watched Tuesday’s news with horror and mourn this preventable loss of life. Nineteen elementary school children, too young to be anything but innocent, and two teachers killed senselessly and brutally in their classroom.

Middlesex County Restoration Center will receive $1.65 in federal funding

A federal appropriations bill signed into law by President Biden includes $1.65 million for a Middlesex County Restoration Center to provide crisis and urgent care for people with behavioral health needs, diverting them from arrest, jail, and hospitalization.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Moment to Reimagine Crisis

Guest blogger Monica Luke, Executive Director of The Living Assistance Fund, writes about the upcoming launch of 9-8-8 as a nationwide, 3-digit crisis line and how we can advocate for comprehensive crisis services in our communities.

Safe Havens Play a Critical Role in Ending Homelessness and Saving Lives

Safe Havens are supervised and supportive housing for people who are homeless and have multiple health and disability conditions and who have not been successful in traditional housing or shelters.

Support Effective Mental Health Parity Laws and Implementation

For decades, MAMH has been advocating to ensure that people with mental health and substance use conditions receive the same level of health insurance benefits and access to services as people with physical health conditions.

What is 988 and Why Should YOU Care?

Guest blogger Monica Luke, Executive Director for The Living Assistance Fund, explains the importance of 988: a 24/7 line that will reimagine behavioral health crises response.

Calling 911: Long-term system change is needed, and we can start now

Important, foundational steps to reform 911 today bring us closer to much-needed systemic change and a safer way to find help when it’s needed.

Why we must reform mental health in MA prisons - and how to do it

Significant reform is needed to address documented human rights violations and abuse against individuals with mental health needs in Massachusetts prisons. Fortunately, existing best practices - and proposed legislation - show us how.

Strengthening penalties for assault of some emergency and health care providers misses the mark

MAMH President & CEO Danna Mauch testified this month before the Joint Committee of The Judiciary. Her message: there are better, more proactive solutions to keep EMTs, ambulance operators and health care providers safe from assault.

Creating an effective behavioral health emergency response system

Individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis and their families often find themselves with nowhere to turn but 911, resulting in a first response by police instead of the public mental health system. We can change this.