White House creates COVID-19 mental health working group

In his Executive Order on Saving Lives Through Increased Support for Mental—and Behavioral—Health, President Trump established a mental health working group to prevent suicide, end the opioid crisis and improve mental and behavioral health. The work group will consider the mental and behavioral health of vulnerable populations affected by the pandemic and will examine existing protocols and evidence-based programs that could serve as models for supporting these groups. Programs under consideration include the Mental Health Toolkit and Centralized Accommodation Programs available through the Department of Labor’s Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion. (HHS news release, 10/5/20)