Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services, Maine

08/20/2026

NAMI Maine is hosting a panel discussion on gaps and solutions for legislators and candidates on September 24.

In an op-ed with the Bangor Daily News, NAMI Maine Board member Emily Horton highlights the importance of mental health advocacy.

“About 13,000 people are on waitlists, with average waits around eight months. Only about 12% of need is being met, and 80 areas are designated mental health professional shortage areas. Piscataquis and Lincoln counties have no practicing psychiatrists, and many rural counties have roughly half the provider density of the Portland metro area.

We would never tell someone with a broken bone to “wait it out” or “try harder.” Yet people seeking mental health care are too often met with long waits and too few providers. The consequences can be devastating.”

NAMI Maine hopes that this highlights the importance of access to mental health care in Maine. Urging candidates to prioritize mental health in the upcoming November elections.

This event is reserved only for Maine Legislators and Candidates.

Register for the panel: https://forms.gle/rWpCiE7xeP77qLH18

Read the op-ed here: https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/08/15/opinion/letters/letter-mental-health-care-must-be-a-priority-in-november-election-joam40zk0w/

08/17/2026

Letter: Mental health care must be a priority in the November election. "...This campaign season voters should ask candidates how they will ensure treatment is affordable and available statewide. Investing in mental healthcare saves lives and reduces pressure on emergency rooms, law enforcement, shelters, schools, and families left to manage crises alone.

NAMI Maine is hosting a Sept. 24 panel for legislators and candidates. It is an opportunity to hear directly from Mainers about systematic gaps and opportunities for solutions.

In November, we should vote for leaders who prioritize mental healthcare."

08/10/2026

The 2026 CCBHC Impact Report shows Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics served 3.4 million people in 2025, expanding access to mental health and substance use care nationwide.

08/04/2026

Congratulations Alliance member Assistance Plus on the opening of their new location in Augusta, Maine. It will be wonderful to have you as our neighbor!

We hope you can join us this Wednesday at 3:00 pm at 96 State Street in Augusta for our new location ribbon cutting and open house!
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/IMMEDIATE-RELEASE--Assistance-Plus-Opens-New-Office-in-Augusta-at-96-State-Street.html?soid=1141545124554&aid=SFldLop0_iQ

08/04/2026

“People ask me how I managed to convince the two most conservative sheriffs in the state to implement comprehensive substance use disorder treatment in their jails,” Dr. Alane O’Connor, the medical director for the Franklin and Somerset jails’ treatment programs, said in a March speech.

But she said the sheriffs needed no convincing: “They said things to me like, ‘The people in this jail are my neighbors and I have an ethical responsibility to make them better off when they re-enter the community than they were when they came in.’”

One day this spring, Sgt. Ryan Close went into the secure evidence room at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and retrieved a heavy-duty lockbox containing doses of Brixadi, an extended-release...

07/20/2026

The Alliance had the privilege of attending Governor Janet Mills' 8th Annual Opioid Response Summit here in Maine

The summit was a powerful reminder that real change happens when communities come together with compassion, determination, and a shared purpose. Every person in the room—from healthcare providers and first responders to recovery advocates, policymakers, educators, and people with lived experience—is contributing to a movement that is saving lives and strengthening our communities.

The progress we've made is the result of countless hours of hard work, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to supporting individuals and families impacted by substance use. While there is still important work ahead, today reaffirmed that Maine is meeting this challenge together—with resilience, innovation, and heart.

Thank you to Governor Janet Mills and Gordon Smith and everyone who helped make this summit possible. I'm proud to stand alongside so many dedicated people working every day to create hope, expand recovery, and build healthier, stronger communities across our state. 💜

06/27/2026

06/27/2026

05/19/2026

Did you know that 1 in 5 Mainers experience a mental illness each year?

This month we are grateful to the community organizations, peer support centers, behavioral health providers, and individuals who show up every day to share their lived experience, deliver services, break the stigma, and raise awareness about resources here in Maine.

To support this work, please consider a donation today to the The Maine Behavioral Health Foundation - MBHF:

https://thealliancemaine.org/maine-behavioral-health-foundation/

05/01/2026

This week, Alliance providers, partners, and legislative champions joined together for the signing of two important behavioral health bills into law. Thank you, Governor Janet Mills, for your support for mental health and substance use disorder services in Maine!

LD 721, sponsored by Rep. Annie Graham provides critical funding to expand same-day access to behavioral health services for thousands of Mainers through Maine's six Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs).

LD 2082, sponsored by State Representative Amy Kuhn protects Maine people, children, and families by introducing foundational guardrails on the use of artificial intelligence in mental health, ensuring that when Mainers seek care, they receive quality treatment and therapy from a real licensed professional.

Kennebec Behavioral Health MaineHealth Behavioral Health Spurwink Services Sweetser NASW Maine Chapter