Mental Health
New and noteworthy
Tracking Key Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Actions Under the Trump Administration
Our tracker lists and briefly describes key federal policy actions during President Trump’s second term that concern issues related to mental health and substance use.
The tracker, which is not meant to be exhaustive, can be viewed in multiple ways, including chronological order of policy actions and by category (Mental Health; Opioids/Substance Use Disorder; Federal Infrastructure/ Data/Guidance; and Gun Violence).
The tracker, which is not meant to be exhaustive, can be viewed in multiple ways, including chronological order of policy actions and by category (Mental Health; Opioids/Substance Use Disorder; Federal Infrastructure/ Data/Guidance; and Gun Violence).
Key CDC Data
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Opioid Deaths: National, State and Demographic Trends
Opioid overdose deaths fell sharply from 2023 to 2024, driven largely by decreases in fentanyl-involved deaths.
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Suicide Deaths: National, State and Demographic Trends
Overall suicide deaths fell slightly from their peak, but firearm suicides reached their highest level and accounted for 57% of all suicides.
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Alcohol Deaths: National, State and Demographic Trends
Alcohol deaths increased gradually before the pandemic, jumped in 2020 and 2021, and have fallen somewhat since then.
Access and coverage
Mental Health Parity at a Crossroads
More than 25 years after the first federal mental health parity protections were put in place, adequate coverage for behavioral health care remains elusive. This brief explains the federal behavioral health parity requirements and sets out key policy issues.Section 1115 Waiver Watch: Contingency Management
Of the 800,000 Medicaid enrollees aged 12 to 64 with a diagnosed stimulant use disorder in 2019, about 20% were in states that now have approved 1115 Medicaid waivers for contingency management services.The Landscape of School-Based Mental Health Services
In the 2024-2025 school year, 18% of students utilized school-based mental health services. This issue brief explores the landscape of mental health services, including services offered, utilization, barriers, and funding, as well as recent federal actions.5 Key Facts about Medicaid Coverage for Adults with Mental Illness
Nationwide, an estimated 52 million nonelderly adults live with mental illness, and Medicaid covers nearly one in three (29%) of them, or about 15 million adults.What Federal Medicaid Cuts Could Mean for the Opioid Epidemic
Medicaid covers 47% of all nonelderly adults with OUD and is the primary coverage source among those receiving treatment services. This brief offers a look at what federal Medicaid spending cuts could mean for this population.
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