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Press Release

Nationwide Initiative Shifts the Culture to Normalize Mental Health for Our Healthcare Workforce

Wellbeing First Champion Challenge Program Makes It Safer for
More Than 4.1 Million Health Workers to Access Mental Health Care

Charlottesville, Va., September 30, 2026 – The ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare coalition, led by the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation, today announced steady momentum in protecting the mental health and wellbeing of our healthcare workforce. Across the country, more than 4.1 million health workers now have a safer, confidential path to accessing care for mental health conditions and substance use disorders as 82 licensing boards, 1,087 hospitals, and 3,306 other care facilities verify their licensing and credentialing applications are free of intrusive mental health questions.

Marking a massive three-year milestone, this represents a 437% increase in protected health workers since September 2023. Healthcare leaders participating in this movement demonstrate that auditing and updating these applications is the initial catalyst and the true driver of broader culture change is the ongoing education and communication that follows.

“Changing the paperwork is only the beginning. The real transformation happens when leaders openly normalize mental health care,” said Corey Feist, CEO & Co-Founder of the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation. “The relentless commitment to transparent communication and visible advocacy for and access to help-seeking builds the trust and psychological safety needed to save the lives and sustain the careers of our healthcare workforce. We will continue this work until every health worker in every state and care setting across the country is fully protected.”

Seeing and Feeling the Difference: Real Stories of Impact

Earlier this year, a survey conducted in partnership with the American Medical Association revealed the measurable success of this initiative: 41% of surveyed health systems reported an increase in health workers using mental health support services after removing intrusive application questions, with zero organizations reporting a negative impact on patient safety or liability.

The survey also proved that proactive communication is the catalyst for this change. Today, organizations are expanding on those findings by sharing the powerful, human stories behind the data – health workers feeling safe to seek support, speak up, and stay in the careers they love:

  • Saving Lives and Providing Immediate Support: By offering confidential, stigma-free support, organizations are helping health workers seek care before facing acute crisis. After active outreach and presentations, one participating health system shared that one of their clinicians experiencing severe burnout and depression engaged in therapy and continued treatment after understanding the organization’s commitment and resources available, and later noted that seeking support was “one of the best decisions they have ever made.” Another organization noted that a health worker experiencing a substance use disorder relapse was able to reach out for help and take protected short leave for treatment without fear of job loss. As one organization observed after an internal referral: “With the help of our stigma-free credentialing questions, we were able to get this health worker the help that they needed and deserved, maybe we even saved a life!”
  • Keeping Healthy, Trusted Professionals in the Workforce: Beyond acute crisis intervention, this initiative is playing a critical role in keeping healthy, trusted professionals in the workforce. One new physician recruit reported that an organization’s recognition was a “determining factor in selecting our hospital as their employer”. Also, health workers with past substance use disorders have noted to another organization that they “felt at ease completing our initial application,” proving that psychological safety directly influences where top talent chooses to work and stay.
  • Shifting the Culture to Normalize Mental Health: Ultimately, these changes are sparking a cultural shift that normalizes care for mental health conditions and substance use disorders across the healthcare industry. The creation of peer support groups and visible leadership engagement is sending a clear message. At one organization, simply displaying their Wellbeing First Champion certificate in a badge-access lounge, prompted a clinician to remark, “This (pointing to the certificate) makes me feel safe.” Leaders across various organizations are also publicly sharing their own mental health journeys, a practice that has “turned a private struggle into an open, normalized conversation.”

Sustaining Momentum for Health Workers’ Mental Health

Every updated application marks a critical step toward ensuring all 22 million U.S. health workers’ mental health is protected. As of September 25, 2026:

  • 82 state licensure boards—including 46 medical, 13 pharmacy, 11 nursing, 10 dental boards, and 2 specialty boards—have verified their licensing applications are free of intrusive mental health questions, protecting nearly 3.6 million licensed health workers nationwide.
  • 1,087 hospitals, 297 free standing emergency departments, 337 free standing surgery centers, 1,157 urgent care centers, and 1,515 independent primary care clinics have removed intrusive questions from credentialing applications, benefiting nearly 558,000 credentialed health workers.
  • North Carolina is the first state to reach more than 75% of its hospitals being recognized as Wellbeing First Champions.

Join the Movement

In honor of National Suicide Prevention Month, the ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare coalition invites all licensing boards and health systems to participate in the Wellbeing First Champion Challenge and commit to this life-saving work all year round. The coalition provides free resources and technical assistance to support leadership through the four-step journey to become a Wellbeing First Champion: Audit, Revise, Verify, and Communicate.

To view current Wellbeing First Champions or to become a Champion, visit https://drlornabreen.org/wfcc/.

“The American Medical Association is proud of the remarkable progress made over the past three years to break down barriers to mental healthcare for physicians and other healthcare workers. More than four million healthcare workers can now seek mental health or substance use care without fear of professional repercussions—a major step toward a healthier workforce and better patient care. But there is more work to do. Our new data show that long-standing structural and cultural barriers still prevent many healthcare workers from seeking the care they need. When licensing boards, hospitals and health systems make the changes recommended by the AMA and the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation, they demonstrate the leadership needed to create a safer environment for health professionals and patients. The AMA and our partners remain committed to eliminating stigmatizing language and practices from licensing and credentialing so every health care worker can seek care without fear of jeopardizing their career,” said Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH, President, American Medical Association (AMA).

“The American Association for Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) commends the work of the ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare coalition, led by the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation,” said Tonka Williams, DNP, MHA, RN, CMSRN, President of the AACN Board of Directors. “This movement to protect health care workers contributes to healthier work environments for all. When healthcare professionals feel supported, valued, and safe to speak up, we strengthen both the workforce and the care provided to patients and families.”

“Creating academic and practice settings that prioritize mental health and foster wellbeing is essential to helping all healthcare professionals thrive,” said Dr. Deborah Trautman, President and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. “On behalf of the academic nursing community, we commend the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation for its tireless leadership to transform the places where nurses learn and work into environments where mental health is valued, support is accessible, and stigma is replaced by compassion and understanding.”

“The health and wellbeing of our healthcare workforce are fundamental to the care they provide every day,” said Tracy Young, MSNA, MBA, CRNA, President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. “For CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists and Residents, creating a culture where it is safe to seek mental health support means breaking down stigma, making resources available, and ensuring no one feels they have to navigate these challenges alone. We are proud to partner with the ALL IN coalition to help make mental health care a routine and supported part of caring for those who care for others.”

“Physician associates provide high-quality, compassionate care to patients, and they deserve the same care in return. Every clinician should feel empowered to seek mental health care without fear or judgment,” said David J. Bunnell, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA, President of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA). “Millions of clinicians now have a safer path to mental health care and wellness. AAPA is proud to stand with our coalition partners and continue this important work until every PA, in every state and practice setting, can receive the support they need without fear of retribution.”

“As emergency physicians, our dedication to caring for others is unwavering. But emergency physicians can become overwhelmed because of the demands, stress and expectations placed upon us 24/7/365 in a system where we lack the resources needed to use our skills to heal others, or ourselves,” said L. Anthony Cirillo, MD, FACEP, President, American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). “Together, we are breaking down barriers so that millions of health care workers can prioritize their mental health without fear of stigma or professional repercussions.”

“We are proud to be a part of Wellbeing First for Healthcare’s efforts to eliminate barriers for healthcare providers that discriminate against mental health concerns, and instead, create pathways to receive care when they need it. It’s work that is saving lives,” said Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, CMO, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

“At the heart of healthcare are people caring for other people, which is why we share this mission to support and invest in the success and well-being of the workforce. Reducing stigma, encouraging people to seek help and supporting caregivers and clinicians is foundational to health and healing. We will continue making the mental health and wellbeing of our healthcare workforce a priority, today and for the future,” said Elisa Arespacochaga, Group Vice President of Clinical Affairs and Workforce, American Hospital Association.

“Future physicians should never be taught—explicitly or implicitly—that their mental health, their humanity, or their inherent wholeness are vulnerabilities at risk of being dismissed, scrutinized, or denied. It is our moral responsibility to understand health as the sacred union of the many dimensions of our lived experience—mental, physical, spiritual, relational, and beyond. When we recognize these as interconnected parts of our humanity, we transform how we approach wellbeing. For wellbeing does not exist alone—and alone is something no one should ever have to feel. AMSA is proud to stand alongside the ALL IN coalition and the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation, hand-in-hand, building a healthcare workforce where humanity is never treated as a liability and true wellness is an accessible human right for all,” said Donya Ahmadian, MS, MPH, Director of Legislative Affairs, The American Medical Student Association (AMSA).

“Every step we take to remove intrusive mental health questions from licensure and credentialing applications helps replace fear with trust, and that trust saves lives. The progress we’re seeing through the Wellbeing First Champion Challenge means millions more health workers can seek mental healthcare confidentially, without worrying that getting help will jeopardize their careers,” said Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, President of the American Nurses Association. “As National Suicide Prevention Month comes to a close, this milestone is a powerful reminder that suicide prevention is also systems change because we’re creating the psychological safety our health workforce needs to thrive.”

“Creating a healthier healthcare workforce requires more than removing barriers to mental health care. It requires building environments where seeking support is normalized, psychological safety is prioritized, and health professionals know they can access care without fear of professional consequences. CHARM is proud to stand alongside the ALL IN coalition in advancing the systems and culture changes needed to sustain the wellbeing of our healthcare workforce,” said Jacob Hinnen, Executive Director, CHARM.

“Pediatric clinicians and hospital workers put kids first every day. By helping children survive and thrive into adulthood, the pediatric workforce helps build our brighter future. Unfortunately, staffing shortages combined with lower compensation and high rates of burnout mean that the children’s health workforce is struggling. Children’s hospitals are prioritizing mental health and well-being support for their workforce so that every child receives quality care. We are so proud to contribute to the ALL IN coalition’s work to improve health care workers’ access to mental health care and reduce stigma around seeking it,” said Paul R. Haut, MD, President, Children’s Hospital Association (CHA).

“Emergency nurses are frequently exposed to traumatic events and high-stress situations that can take an emotional toll and contribute to mental health challenges,” said Dustin Bass, DNP, MHA, RN, CEN, NEA-BC, President, Emergency Nurses Association. “Nurses, along with all health care workers, deserve a psychologically safe work environment where seeking support is encouraged, not stigmatized. ENA is proud to be part of the ALL IN coalition because together we can continue building a culture where mental health is prioritized, stigma is reduced and those who need help feel empowered to seek it.”

“Asking for help should never feel like a professional risk. Each application that drops these questions tells health workers that seeking care is welcome, not something to hide. We are grateful to the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation and the ALL IN coalition for making that message clear for so many,” said The Emotional PPE Project.

“Physician wellness is a patient safety issue and a top priority for the nation’s state medical boards,” said Humayun Chaudhry, DO, MACP, President and CEO of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB). “State medical boards have made meaningful progress in removing barriers that discourage physicians from seeking care. FSMB is proud to partner with the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation and remains committed to supporting the health of physicians, because it protects the patients they serve.”

“Every day, a caring colleague from one of our member physician health programs sits across from a physician or other healthcare professional who is terrified that asking for help will cost them their career they have worked so hard to build. For more than 45 years, those programs have answered that fear with confidential, competent care — and the evidence backs it up. In the landmark five-year study of physicians treated for substance use disorders in physician health programs, 81% had no evidence of substance use at any point during monitoring, and nearly 79% were still licensed and practicing medicine five years later. The Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation gave that quiet work a national voice at exactly the right moment. We are proud to stand with them on health question reform — and committed to the work still ahead: protecting the confidentiality of PHP records, and reaching healthcare professionals early, before a health condition puts safe practice at risk,” said Edwin Kim, MD, FAPA, MRO, President, Federation of State Physician Health Programs (FSPHP).

“In our research collaboration with the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation and its ALL IN coalition, we uncovered various individual, structural and cultural barriers that prevent many clinicians from accessing mental health care. The Wellbeing First Champion Challenge helps break down these barriers,” said Liz Boehm, Executive Strategist, Heart of Safety Coalition and Stryker. “By removing invasive questions from licensure, credentialing and hiring processes, and by sparking conversations across the industry about the importance of mental health access, we can make healthcare safer for care team members and patients alike.”

“Protecting the health of our communities requires us to protect the health and wellbeing of the people who care for them. For too long, physicians and other health professionals have faced stigma and unnecessary professional barriers when seeking mental health care. The Wellbeing First Champion Challenge demonstrates what is possible when we move beyond simply encouraging resilience and instead change the systems and culture in which our healthcare workforce practices. The National Medical Association is proud to stand with this coalition in advancing a healthcare environment where seeking help is normalized, confidentiality is protected, and every health professional can access the care they need without fear of jeopardizing their career. This is how we sustain our workforce, strengthen our healthcare system, and ensure that those who care for others are cared for as well,” said Brandi K. Freeman, MD, MS, President, National Medical Association.

“As a nursing community that has long borne both the honor and the weight of caregiving, PNAA is proud to stand with the ALL IN coalition in this work. Too many of our nurses have stayed silent about their struggles for fear it would cost them their license or livelihood. Every application that removes intrusive mental health questions tells a nurse: your wellbeing matters as much as the care you give others. We are committed to carrying this message to every chapter of our organization until seeking help is never a career risk but a sign of strength,” said Dr. Bob Gahol, President, Philippine Nurses Association of America, Inc.

“Healthcare workers carry the weight of their patients’ worst days, while often also quietly struggling with their own. At the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare, we believe that protecting patients starts with protecting the people who care for them. Our Schwartz Rounds program gives clinicians a regular, structured space to talk honestly about the emotional toll of this work, because a workforce that feels safe to speak up is a workforce that’s better able to keep patients safe,” said Michael Gustafson, MD, MBA, CEO of the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare.

ABOUT ALL IN: WELLBEING FIRST FOR HEALTHCARE

ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare, led by the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation, is a coalition of interprofessional, cross-sector national organizations dedicated to advancing a state where the healthcare workforce’s wellbeing is prioritized, and health workers feel valued and supported so they can sustain their sense of purpose and meaning in their work. Coalition members include American Academy of Physician Associates, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Surgeons, American Dental Association, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, American Medical Student Association, American Nurses Association, American Nurses Credentialing Center, American Psychiatric Association Foundation, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, American Urological Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, Children’s Hospital Association, Collaborative for Healing and Renewal in Medicine (CHARM), Covista, Emergency Nurses Association, The Emotional PPE Project, Epic, Federation of State Medical Boards, Federation of State Physician Health Programs, FemInEM, FIGS, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Heart of Safety Coalition, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Johnson & Johnson, Medicine Forward, National Athletic Trainers’ Association, National Black Nurses Association, National Medical Association, Philippines Nurses Association of America, The Physicians Foundation, The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare, Surgeon Well-Being Coalition, and Thrive Global Foundation.

ABOUT THE DR. LORNA BREEN FOUNDATION

The Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation is dedicated to transforming systems and culture to protect health workers’ wellbeing and mental health. Built on a movement of shared experiences and collective action, the Foundation leads national advocacy and evidence-informed operational programs to build a healthcare system that values, supports, and sustains its workforce. Through cross-sector collaboration and proven solutions, the Foundation works to ensure every health worker can practice in a supportive environment and safely access mental health care without fear of professional repercussions. Learn more at drlornabreen.org.