HRSA-SAMSHA-NHSC Summit: Ensuring the Supply of Mental and Behavioral Health Services and Providers

In December 2004, the final summit in a series on mental and behavioral health issues was held in Seattle, Washington. This gathering was the capstone in a nationwide project begun in September 2000 designed to expand access to quality mental health and substance abuse services and integrate these services with primary care. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) developed and implemented the Mental and Behavioral Health Summit Initiative to help states and communities increase behavioral health – specifically, mental and substance abuse -  with primary care and provider access within underserved communities. The conversation started at these summits - and the action plans developed during the meetings – are already producing important health outcome for our nation: healthier minds and healthier bodies. 

As the primary facilitator of the summits and a leading force in espousing the interdisciplinary approach to patient care, the National Health Service Corps will be following up with summit teams to check in on their progress at home and share with the primary care community what best practices in the field are yielding the best results for improving the health of people living in underserved areas.

We thank our participants for their expertise, their compelling and challenging ideas, and for their ongoing commitment to improve the delivery of mental health and substance abuse services in their communities. Stay with us as we evaluate these outcomes over the coming year, and read on for further information: