As the federal agency charged with leading efforts to advance the nation’s behavioral health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) seeks to reduce the impact of substance use and mental illness on American communities. Addressing that challenge is a main priority of Arlin Hatch, PhD, who in July 2018 became SAMHSA’s first Senior Psychologist.
Hatch, who works within SAMHSA’s Office of the Chief Medical Officer, was hired as part of an effort to improve clinical services on a national scale for those in greatest need of mental health and substance use treatment, including those who are homeless or at risk of suicide. (The office reports directly to Elinore F. McCance-Katz, MD, PhD, the agency’s assistant secretary for mental health and substance use.)
Hatch will also help represent the agency in federal and public capacities and is lending his expertise to a high-level, congressionally mandated committee aimed at coordinating mental health care across federal agencies.
Hatch brings strong clinical experience to the post. A 2002 graduate of Brigham Young University’s clinical psychology doctoral program, he has served in a variety of clinically oriented leadership positions in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, for the state of Utah and most recently with the U.S.Public Health Service, where he serves as executive officer for one of five mental health teams that respond to nationally declared emergencies such as natural or man-made catastrophes.
Hatch is enthusiastic about his new position for many reasons, including a personal one: Members of his own family have struggled with serious mental illness and substance use. “I’m passionate about psychology’s role in reducing the impact of mental and substance use disorders on America’s communities,” he says.
The Monitor asked Hatch about his role and how he plans to use his psychology background to best help those under SAMHSA’s purview.
How can SAMHSA better assist people who are in greatest need of treatment for mental health and substance use disorders?
One important way is by contributing to the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committeeopens in new window, an unprecedented federal and nonfederal collaboration made up of leaders from 10 federal departments as well as public stakeholders such as researchers, providers, patients, families, judges and law enforcement officers. The committee discusses and takes actions to better coordinate the administration of mental health services for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbance and is also working to implement 45 recommendations made by the nonfederal committee members.
The recommendations have been assigned to five interagency teams that have already begun to prioritize the recommendations and take steps to address them. It’s a major step forward because it means federal agencies involved in mental health issues are working together rather than in silos.
Another way is through SAMHSA’s “technology transfer” centers—two newly launched centers on mental health and substance use prevention that join a third on addiction already in existence. The purpose of the centers is to provide access to free or low-cost resources, tools, training and technical support to help psychologists and other practitioners implement the best evidence-based practices available. These largely virtual centers are being tailored to fit the needs of clinicians and others across 10 national regions. The plan is to have a single entry point on samhsa.gov through which service providers can access them.
What other projects are you involved in that could impact psychologists?
I am exploring ways to expand psychology’s footprint within the public mental health system, for example, by providing leaders and other stakeholders with information on the value that psychologists can add to the system. Psychologists are uniquely qualified to enhance clinical services for those most burdened by serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbance in ways that extend well beyond provision of direct care—for example, as clinical directors, trainers and supervisors who champion quality, evidence-based practice that will enhance clinical outcomes. As a profession, we are also well equipped to lead programmatic evaluation and quality improvement efforts, and to use implementation science to help effect change at the organizational and systems levels.
In addition, I am spearheading a project to develop a public domain guide for mental health clinicians. It would provide an overview of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for treating people with serious mental illness—one of the approaches with strong empirical support. The guide would help clinicians build on prior training in CBT and, in addition, would direct resource-strapped providers and public mental health systems toward additional assistance in implementing the range of evidence-based practices, for example, through SAMHSA’s training and technical assistance centers, peer consultation opportunities and formal in-person training.
How will you apply your previous experience to your post?
The role of Senior Psychologist is a cross between one’s experience and personal interests and where those intersect with SAMHSA’s priorities. Because of my background in the Air Force and the Public Health Service, I will be reaching out to the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other veteran and military entities on shared priorities. For example, we can work together on efforts to reduce the number of military and veteran suicides. I am also bringing my military and veteran perspective to the work of the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee.
In addition, I’m working to establish relationships with relevant national professional organizations such as APA. I have met with APA executives to determine shared priorities and tap into APA’s extensive brain trust. For example, SAMHSA and APA could collaborate on topics such as best practices for demonstration projects and implementing them so they are of maximum use to busy clinicians. Other mutual priorities include promoting nonpharmacological treatment approaches for pain management and opioid addiction, and expanding the integration of psychologists into primary care and throughout the community mental health system.
To find out more about SAMHSA’s new Technology Transfer Centers, Centers of Excellence and other initiatives, visit www.samhsa.govopens in new window.
