The State of Mental Wellbeing: A Podcast on Mental Health and Substance Use

A Global Approach to Addressing Mental Health & Substance Use

In this episode, Mohini Venkatesh sits down with Steve Appleton of the Global Leadership Exchange (GLE) and Chuck Ingoglia of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to explore how global collaboration can strengthen mental health care, substance use treatment and behavioral health systems. They discuss workforce shortages, task sharing, peer support, crisis response, leadership development and cross-sector innovation, offering practical insights for improving access to care, community-based services and systemwide outcomes.  This conversation highlights how global knowledge exchange can advance mental health policy, behavioral health innovation and substance use care. From task sharing and peer-led crisis services to leadership development and workforce strategy, the episode explores scalable solutions for meeting rising demand.  * How global knowledge exchange can strengthen mental health systems, substance use services and behavioral health leadership  * Why task sharing, peer support specialists and nontraditional workforce models are critical to the future of mental health care * What leaders can do to improve crisis response, expand access to care and embed lived experience into service design  Steve Appleton serves as President and Chief Executive of Global Leadership Exchange (GLE). Prior to this, Steve was Managing Director of a consultancy and research practice specializing in work relating to mental health, housing, disability and older age. He has worked nationally and internationally on population-based mental health improvement programs in cities and urban regions. Alongside his role with GLE Steve also serves as Chair of the Board of the Association of Mental Health Providers in England and Wales, and Chair of the Board of Beacon CHC.  Follow for weekly conversations shaping mental health and substance use care.

Addressing Youth Addiction & Recovery with Dr. John Kelly

On this episode, special guest host Philip Rutherford, VP of Growth and Substance Use Strategy at the National Council, speaks with John Kelly, PhD, a leading addiction recovery researcher at Harvard Medical School, about the future of youth substance use prevention, treatment and recovery. They explore recovery science, recovery support services, adolescent substance use disorder, early intervention, high-potency cannabis, polysubstance use and the urgent need for evidence-based, developmentally appropriate care for young people and families.  Key Takeaways: * Why youth recovery support services remain one of the biggest gaps in substance use care.  * How recovery science has evolved their definitions of recovery, mutual-help research and long-term support.  * The rising risks of social media exposure, high-potency cannabis and polysubstance for adolescents.  John Kelly, PhD, is the Elizabeth R. Spallin Professor of Psychiatry in Addiction Medicine at Harvard Medical School and founder of the Recovery Research Institute and the National Center on Youth Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery at Massachusetts General Hospital. Follow for weekly conversations shaping mental health and substance use care.

How Ballmer Group is Transforming Community Wellbeing Through Philanthropy

On this episode of The State of Mental Wellbeing, we sat down with Andi Smith from Ballmer Group’s Washington team to explore how the capitalization of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) is fundamentally changing the way community and behavioral health care is delivered in America.   During this episode, Mohini Venkatesh and Andi Smith discuss the increasing adoption of the CCBHC model. Through Medicaid funding and philanthropic partnerships, CCBHCs are becoming the norm, not the expectation, for how communities can receive care and services. Dive deeper into what makes the backbone of a CCBHC, philanthropy’s partnership with public dollars and how Ballmer Group’s advocation of the CCBHC model is creating scalable change in the way we think about and deliver behavioral health care services.   This episode explores how CCBHCs are increasing access to care and services through payment reform, community partnerships and implementation support.   * How CCBHCs are expanding access to behavioral health care services for the community.  * How philanthropic partnerships with public sectors are scaling these behavioral health care services. * How mental health is used as a force multiplier to create change in the community and individual lives.  Andi Smith is the Executive Director of National Behavioral Health and Ballmer Group’s Washington team, where she leads strategy and investments to improve economic mobility for children and families across the state. She brings deep expertise in public systems and policy, with a focus on child welfare, behavioral health, early childhood, disability, housing, and services for youth experiencing homelessness.  Follow for weekly conversations shaping mental health and substance use care.

The Future of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) & Mental Health Care with Dr. Nitin Gogtay

Dr. Nitin Gogtay joins Mohini Venkatesh to discuss the future of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and how a more scientific, flexible and person-centered approach could reshape psychiatric diagnosis, behavioral health practice and mental health care.  On this episode of The State of Mental Wellbeing, Mohini sits down with Dr. Nitin Gogtay and discusses the latest updates to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and his impact as chief of research and deputy medical director at the American Psychiatric Association. Explore how measurement-informed care, scientific advancements and stakeholder engagement are shaping a more person-centric approach to diagnosis and treatment. Perfect for mental health professionals, advocates and anyone interested in the future of psychiatry.  This episode examines how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) may move beyond fixed categories toward a more holistic, measurement-informed model for psychiatric diagnosis, behavioral health assessment and better long-term treatment planning.  *  How the DSM is evolving into a living document shaped by scientific advances in mental health  * Why quality of life and transdiagnostic symptoms matter in psychiatric diagnosis  * How measurement-informed care and emerging biomarkers could improve behavioral health treatment  Nitin Gogtay, MD, is a psychiatrist and neuroscientist who currently serves as Vice President of Research and Deputy Medical Director at the American Psychiatric Association [https://www.psychiatry.org/] (APA).  Subscribe and listen for weekly conversations shaping mental health and substance use care.

New Approaches to Nonprofits: Visionary Leadership and the Five & Rising Initiative

Join host Mohini Venkatesh and Jody Levison-Johnson, president and CEO of Social Current, for a conversation about what it will take to create a more sustainable social sector and the Five & Rising initiative. They explore leading through constraint, changing how the social sector is valued and funded, and building a bold vision for the future.  In this episode, Mohini Venkatesh speaks with Jody Levison-Johnson about the urgent need to reshape public understanding of the social sector, Social Current’s mission and the Five & Rising initiative. They discuss constrained funding environments, harmful narratives about nonprofits, the importance of bold leadership, and how organizations can build new blueprints for sustainability, innovation, and long-term community impact. Key takeaways include: * How the Five & Rising initiative aims to shift public narratives about the social sector. * Why leaders should stay bold, trust their instincts and resist shrinking in constrained environments. * What boards, funders and communities can do to support a more sustainable and effective sector.  Jody Levison-Johnson is a licensed clinical social worker with over 30 years of experience in the field of human services. She currently serves as the President and CEO of Social Current, a diverse network of nearly 1,600 human service organizations.  Follow for weekly conversations shaping mental health and substance use care.  For more information on the Five & Rising Initiative, visit ⁠https://www.fiveandrising.org/ [https://www.fiveandrising.org/]⁠