Ask the Expert: People, Place and Purpose: A Vision for the Failing Mental Health System

Course overview

This course, based on the Ask the Expert webinar series by NAMI, presents a systems-focused framework for addressing gaps in U.S. mental health outcomes by distinguishing between "mental health" and "mental healthcare" and emphasizing recovery-oriented goals. Using the "people, place, and purpose" model, the instructor examines how engagement, peer/community supports, and meaningful roles are critical complements to clinical services and medication based care. The training also reviews pragmatic service delivery innovations - such as non-law-enforcement crisis response models aligned with 988 - that aim to reduce avoidable emergency department use, incarceration, and unmet need. Learners are guided to consider how policy, financing, and accountability mechanisms can support scalable, evidence-informed systems change. The course, with an intended audience of social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and counselors, equips behavioral health professionals to integrate recovery-oriented, evidence-informed system design into clinical, program, and advocacy roles across settings.