3.3.2023 | February 2021 Issue

Behavioral Health Matters (SB 1):

With the support of the Governor, legislative leadership, and of course, all of the mental health advocates across the state, behavioral health legislation has become a priority this year.

Senate Bill 1 will require the Division of Mental Health and Addiction to establish and maintain the 9-8-8 help line. It will also allow for the continuation of the Be Well Crisis Helpline. Significantly, it will build out Indiana's behavioral health infrastructure through the expansion of CCBHCs. The bill also reestablishes the Indiana behavioral health commission and changes the commission membership to eight (8) members.

This is the first time in Indiana history that a mental health bill has been designated SB 1, a legislative priority. 

Professional Counselors Licensure Compact (SB 160): SB 160 requires the behavioral health and human services licensing board to administer the professional counselors licensure compact. The bill allows a counselor in their home state to practice via telehealth in a compact member state. This expands workforce availability and will help employers reach more patients.

Budget (HB 1001):

HB 1001, the State Budget Bill, comes now from the House of Representatives to the Senate Appropriations Committee, where mental health programs have been appropriated. Some areas of prioritization are:

• $6.5M in each year to provide reimbursement for services provided by community mental health centers in the group home setting.
• $500M for READI grants to include mental health
• Supports Indiana veterans with $1M each year for suicide prevention and $2M each year for career and relocation assistance.
• Appropriates $10M for regional mental health facility grants to support a regional approach to mental health services for incarcerated individuals.
• Appropriates $60M across the biennium for juvenile justice initiatives (HB 1361) 

Please note that NO appropriations have been made to SB 1 to fully fund 988. Click HERE to ask your legislator(s) to fully fund SB 1.

To review the full mental health summary of the state budget bill, click HERE.

Mental Health Programs (HB 1006):

Indiana does not have a system designed to specifically meet the needs of behavioral health crisis other than Emergency Departments. HB 1006 specifies the circumstances under which a person may be involuntarily committed to a facility for mental health services and specifies that these services are medically necessary. The bill also establishes a local mental health referral program to provide mental health treatment for individuals who have been arrested.

Public Safety Training (HB 1321):

MHAI supports access for public safety officers and law enforcement to receive training that addresses their mental health and wellness. HB 1321 requires the executive training program to include training in mental health and wellness and suicide prevention of law enforcement officers. The bill allows the mental health and wellness training to be provided online or by other means of virtual instruction.

Health Matters (HB 1462):

Unfortunately, the vast majority of people who die in Indiana from overdose have been in an emergency department within the last year. We touch them and then we let them go, without providing proper care or the most basic resources. This bill changes the hole in our community health safety nets. HB 1462 requires an emergency department to annually submit to the Indiana department of health a plan to initiate interventions with patients who have a substance use related emergency department visit. In addition, it establishes the requirements of a substance use disorder treatment plan. The bill establishes that the services provided to a patient under a substance use disorder treatment plan are considered to be medically necessary.

To view more key behavioral health bills Mental Health America of Indiana is tracking, please click HERE!

The 2023 signature event, Hoosier Idol, features members of the Indiana General Assembly showcasing their hidden talents to compete for the title of 2023 Hoosier Idol.

The evening includes a reception and dinner, followed by the highlight of the evening - entertainment provided by members of our own Indiana General Assembly. Of course, the annual Hoosier Idol event receives generous media coverage as its guest judge panelists are State House celebrities themselves. We expect well OVER 700 attendees, including Indiana policymakers, advocates, psychiatrists, physicians, mental health providers, professionals, and mental health activists.

The goal for Hoosier Idol is to provide a venue for public education on issues critical to the behavioral health system in Indiana, as well as to raise funds for the programs and services of Mental Health America of Indiana. Mental Health America of Indiana has united business and civic leaders, community members and opinion makers, health advocates, legislators and media through this annual charitable event. We could not host this event without the help of our Dinner Chair, Matt Bell, and the support of The Casino Association.



Mental Health America of Indiana has been a partner with the Casino Association of Indiana to promote responsible gambling and treatment for those with gambling addiction. Proceeds from Hoosier Idol help support these many programs and services provided by Mental Health America of Indiana. For well over 50 years, we have worked to improve the lives of persons with mental illnesses and addictive disorders.

MHAI is the state's leading network for mental health and addiction information and advocacy.

We hope you can join us for the most popular legislative event of the year! 

As many of you know, this year Vibrant was awarded funding to support awareness building of the 988 Lifeline. We are excited to begin planning this strategic promotion - and we know many of you are excited to hear more, too! We will be sharing periodic updates over email and through webinars when we have more concrete information. As of now: 

• Vibrant has been awarded the funding
• Vibrant 988 communications is working very closely with SAMHSA 988 communications to ensure alignment 
• Vibrant has pulled together an RFP to work with agencies on a national level for the awareness campaign
• The RFP application process will run through March and into April

In the meantime, it is important for centers to know that Vibrant does not anticipate the resulting promotions to start until at least May, or June, 2023 at the earliest. We will be sharing more information as we have it, including timing, geographic areas affected by specific campaigns, modes of promotion, and other important details - so that centers and states can be informed and prepared.

We encourage you to attend the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Centers Communications Training Webinar on March 21 at 3pm ET. While the webinar will focus mostly on media messaging and media prep, we will allocate some time at the end of the webinar to share any updates that we might have concerning promotions. You can register for the webinar at this link: https://vibrant.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcldO6grj4uH9AN-371scHrFiQdgpKz8TfM

Thank you all for your work in providing life-saving support to anyone that reaches out to 988 Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line, and the Disaster Distress Helpline!