The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has announced the release of its 2023–2026 Strategic Plan.

“This four-year plan emphasizes a more person-centered approach and introduces a new mission and vision, key guiding principles, and priorities,” said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, PhD, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “It will serve as a roadmap to improve and advance public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse and overdose, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while also ensuring equitable access and better outcomes.”

The agency identified five priority areas to better meet the behavioral healthcare needs of the nation: 1) preventing substance use and overdose; 2) enhancing access to suicide prevention and mental health services; 3) promoting resilience and emotional health for children, youth, and families; 4) integrating behavioral and physical health care; and 5) strengthening the behavioral health workforce

SAMHSA’s work is guided by four core principles that are being integrated throughout the Agency’s activities:

• Equity – Behavioral health equity is the right to access high-quality and affordable healthcare services and supports for all populations, including those who belong to under-served / historically marginalized populations that have been denied such treatment.

• Trauma Informed Approaches – Trauma-informed approaches recognize and intentionally respond to the lasting adverse effects of traumatic experiences, while promoting linkages to recovery and resilience for impacted individuals and families.

• Recovery – Recovery as a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. Recovery promotes the expectation that all individuals, including those with SUDs and mental illnesses, can thrive.

• Commitment to Data and Evidence – Streamlining and modernizing data collection efforts and coordinating cross-agency evaluation to ensure data-driven funding and policies

Learn more about SAMHSA’s strategic plan at https://www.samhsa.gov/about-us/strategic-plan.

Navis Clinical Laboratories is committed to partnering with healthcare providers to provide solutions to help reduce suffering and save the lives of people with substance use disorder, mental health conditions and other acute and chronic diseases. We advocate for those patients by delivering services that help clinicians provide whole-person care, improve outcomes and help patients thrive.

Source: SAMHSA.gov