For more than 20 years, our Middle Management Academy (MMA) has equipped behavioral health leaders with the tools,confidence and community they need to thrive. In our Dec. 10 episode of Wellbeing Wednesdays, we sat down with program lead Jeanne Supin, MA, to explore MMA’s origins, evolution and lasting impact. Tune in to learn how MMA continues to empower the leaders at the heart of our health care system.

In this episode of Wellbeing Wednesdays we explore the behavioral health workforce crisis through a deeply personal and visionary conversation between Chuck Ingoglia, CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and Dr. Joe Lee, CEO of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Joe shares his journey from an immigrant background to leading one of the country’s largest nonprofits in substance use and mental health care. A major focus is on workforce development, particularly how Hazelden Betty Ford is pioneering alternative educational pathways, including master’s programs that don’t require a bachelor’s degree.

Joe highlights the organization's "ambassadorship culture", their unique graduate school, and their strategic partnerships, including a new collaboration with the National Council to create training pipelines for future clinicians. The conversation ends with a powerful reflection on the definition of recovery—not just sobriety, but thriving through living one's values.

In our latest Wellbeing Wednesdays episode, National Council for Mental Wellbeing President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia, MSW, sits down with Laura K. Murray, PhD, MA, sr. scientist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and co-developer of CETA, to explore how this groundbreaking approach:

• Breaks complex care into practical, measurable components.

• Empowers clinicians and other caregivers to deliver effective treatment.

• Reduces burnout and waitlists through smarter workflows.

• Uses technology and AI to scale trainings and outcomes.

This episode of Wellbeing Wednesdays is a heart-forward exploration of the impact of peer support specialists in community mental health, centered around VIP Community Services in the Bronx. Debbian Fletcher-Blake outlines the breadth of VIP’s integrated services—from methadone treatment and mobile medication units to shelter, behavioral health, and pediatrics—all under one roof. Their goal: meet people where they are, with compassion, access, and comprehensive care.

Anthony Kohl, a peer specialist and military veteran, shares his raw, personal story of addiction, recovery, incarceration, and finding purpose in service. He describes his typical day doing outreach, running groups for veterans, delivering supplies, and building trust with people who often feel forgotten. Anthony’s empathy and lived experience make him an anchor for clients and colleagues alike.

Debbian and Anthony underscore the unique value of peers: they bridge trust gaps, reduce stigma, and offer relatable support that clinical roles alone often can’t match. The conversation closes with reflections on mental wellbeing, self-care, and the deep human need for connection.

Accessing quality mental health care shouldn’t take a legal fight — but for Joe Feldman, it did. When his child was denied coverage for needed treatment, he took on the insurance company and won. Now, he’s helping others do the same. In our latest episode of Wellbeing Wednesdays, Joe shares his story and how to fight insurance denials, understand parity laws and access the care every family deserves.

In this October 15th episode of Wellbeing Wednesdays, we discuss the critical workforce crisis America is facing. Communities nationwide are grappling with a shortage of licensed mental health and substance use professionals, creating barriers to care for those who need it most. Our National Mental Health Workforce Acceleration Collaborative, developed in partnership with and funded by Kaiser Permanente, is addressing this challenge head-on. Learn more in the latest episode of Wellbeing Wednesdays, featuring insights from Kaiser Permanente leadership, an Accelerator participant and the National Council’s Jessica Robins, MPH.

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, we held “Redefining Recovery: A Human-centered Approach to SUD Care,” a special National Recovery Month edition of Wellbeing Wednesdays. In this episode, National Council Chief of Staff Mohini Venkatesh and Nzinga Harrison, MD, co-founder and chief medical officer of Eleanor Health, discuss elevating lived experience alongside clinical expertise, putting people at the heart of healing, and recognizing community, connection and agency as essential to recovery.

On Aug. 27, we hosted another episode of our Wellbeing Wednesdays virtual learning series, featuring Brett Beckerson, senior director of public policy and advocacy at the National Council, and Zoe Frantz, president and CEO of the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers. Frantz shares how her family’s experience with opioid use disorder drives her grassroots policy work and highlights effective advocacy strategies — from Hill Days to site visits — that align efforts across government levels. She also explores the power of authentic storytelling and fostering a culture of mental wellbeing for both clients and staff.