Ep 23: Building a Mental Health System That Works with Sue Abderholden

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Mental Health Evolution, host Rachel Harrison welcomes Sue Abderholden, a national leader with over 40 years of experience in disability advocacy, mental health policy, and nonprofit leadership. Sue served as Executive Director of NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness), where she led systems advocacy by engaging grassroots members, shaping legislation, educating policymakers, and shifting public attitudes about mental health. Her work spanned adult and children's mental health, education, criminal justice, housing, employment, healthcare, and insurance reform. Sue joins Rachel to unpack a powerful reframing: the mental health system isn't "broken" — it's still being built. Drawing on her extensive experience, Sue reflects on systemic improvements over the past decades, practical lessons from school-linked care, workforce development, parity enforcement, and crisis response — and offers thoughtful insights about what's still needed to build a more coordinated and functional system. KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED (IN ORDER) Sue's background: 40+ years advocating for people with mental illnesses and disabilities Why the system isn't "broken"—it's evolving and still being built Shifts in funding and coverage: the impact of Medicaid benefit expansion Early intervention and school-linked mental health services Workforce challenges: diversity, supervision, loan forgiveness, and compensation Mental health parity and the importance of enforcing network adequacy Crisis care systems: 988, mobile teams, voluntary engagement, and upstream intervention How coordinated residential and emergency services can improve outcomes One key message for listeners: You can create change MAIN TAKEAWAYS Reframing the system from "broken" to "still being built" can create momentum for solutions. Early screening matters most when paired with clear pathways to follow-up care. Workforce development and diversity require intentional investment and practical policy solutions. True parity includes enforcing non-quantitative treatment limits and adequate reimbursement. Crisis response works best when it intervenes before an emergency and connects to supports. RESOURCES MENTIONED / REFERENCED Sue's Minnesota Reformer article — Here's How to Move Forward on a Stronger, Functioning Mental Health Care System https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/12/01/heres-how-to-move-forward-on-a-stronger-functioning-mental-health-care-system/ KFF — The Landscape of School-Based Mental Health Services https://www.kff.org/mental-health/the-landscape-of-school-based-mental-health-services/ NASHP — Trends in State Strategies to Improve the Behavioral Health Workforce https://nashp.org/trends-in-state-strategies-to-improve-the-behavioral-health-workforce/ Milliman — Mental Health Parity & Medicaid Implementation for State Agencies https://www.milliman.com/en/insight/mental-health-parity-medicaid-implementation-state-agencies SAMHSA — National Guidelines for a Behavioral Health Coordinated Crisis System https://988crisissystemshelp.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/national-guidelines-crisis-care-pep24-01-037.pdf CONNECT WITH THE GUEST Sue Abderholden LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-abderholden-474b047/ Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison