MI Mental Health

The MI Mental Health series highlights the opportunities that Michigan’s children, teens and adults of all ages have to find the mental health help they need, when and where they need it. It is made possible with funding from the Community Mental Health Association of MichiganCenter for Health and Research TransformationOnPointSanilac County CMHSt. Clair County CMHSummit Pointe, and Washtenaw County CMH and Public Safety Preservation Millage.

"... at least 17 children at any time are boarding in an emergency department across the state.”

Michigan’s hospitals and improved pediatric behavioral health care

The Michigan Health and Hospital Association addresses pediatric behavioral health care with data, advocacy, and grant funding of member hospital programs. 

Maribeth Leonard
Countywide mental health millages have remarkable results

Jackson, Hillsdale, Ottawa, and Washtenaw counties passed mental health millages and seen positive impacts such as expanded access to care to their residents, increased service capacity, improved crisis response, and more.

Community mental health delivers care to Michigan’s schools

Michigan's CMHs play a critical role in schools, providing counseling, crisis intervention, and case management to students who might otherwise slip through the cracks.  

This is how to do mental health: Community outreach builds access

The staff of Michigan’s community mental health agencies aren’t sitting at their desks waiting for the phone to ring. They are out in their communities letting people know that mental health care is within reach. 

Mark Witte chats with OnPoint staff: from left,  Andre Pierre, Jr., chief administrative officer; Kelly Dingman, accounting supervisor, and Sarah Lumbert, general accountant.
OnPoint: The many professional roles within mental health care

Michigan’s community mental health agencies need more psychiatrists, psychologists, and master’s level social workers, but they also need bachelor’s level social workers, administrative staff,  peer support specialists, accountants, and direct care workers — roles that require no college degree or degrees in areas not relating directly to mental health. 

Michigan student loan repayment program helping to tackle mental health workforce shortage

Michigan has long faced a critical shortage of mental health professionals, impacting access to vital care for communities across the state. To address this growing challenge, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) launched the Behavioral Health Now Loan Repayment Program, a strategic initiative aimed at attracting and retaining mental health professionals by alleviating the financial burden of student loans.

Nailah Henry
Washtenaw County leads the way with ADAPTS mental health model

ADAPTS project utilizes system dynamics modeling to reshape how communities address mental health needs by offering a comprehensive framework for resource planning and crisis intervention.

Michigan building a better crisis continuum for mental health care

As mental health needs rise across Michigan, state officials, health care providers, and community organizations are focusing on expanding the continuum of care for people in crisis.

Robert Sheehan
Michigan’s community mental health agencies will do even more good work in 2025

Federal dollars, state initiatives, community partnerships, and a normalization of seeking and receiving behavioral health care have positioned Michigan’s community mental health agencies to do even more good work in 2025.

Deb Messing oversees Sanilac County Community Mental Health communications efforts to the county's rural residents.
Rural mental health providers overcome stigma, rugged individualism, and distance to provide care

Here's how three Michigan community mental health agencies serving rural populations have found ways to meet their unique needs by developing innovative programs and effective outreach.

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