On February 13, 2025, the White House issued an executive order establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission. The initiative could mark a significant shift in U.S. health policy. Led by newly confirmed Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the initiative primarily targets childhood chronic diseases.
The commission emerges from the administration’s and Kennedy’s recent criticism of current health practices, including concerns about food quality and prescription drug usage.
It includes leadership from key health agencies: NIH, CDC, and FDA, and though public representatives aren't directly included, the order provides provisions for input from other experts.
According to the executive order:
- 90% of America’s $4.5 trillion health care spending is directed at managing chronic and mental health conditions.
- 77% of young adults do not qualify for military service without a waiver, primarily due to being overweight, drug use, or mental and physical health issues.
The commission will investigate various potential contributors to childhood chronic diseases, including:
- food production methods
- environmental toxins
- medical treatments
A "Make Our Children Healthy Again" assessment for the White House’s review is due within 100 days, which includes examining the impact of psychiatric medications such as mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and SSRIs. Within 6 months, the commission must deliver a comprehensive strategy to restructure the federal government's approach to childhood chronic diseases.
Stakeholders are encouraged to engage through public hearings and roundtables held by the commission. NBCC will closely monitor the activities of the commission and identify opportunities for influencing its work this year.
Implications for Counselors
The commission's scrutiny of psychiatric medications presents a pivotal opportunity for counselors to reshape the landscape of mental health care delivery. This shift could elevate the role of non-pharmaceutical interventions and position counselors as key leaders in comprehensive mental health treatment.
The commission's potential questioning of medication-first approaches creates opportunities for counselors to showcase the effectiveness of psychotherapy. The potential impact spans several crucial areas: enhanced recognition of talk therapy and evidence-based therapeutic interventions, expanded treatment options including mindfulness and lifestyle modifications, prevention-focused counseling, and strengthened leadership in holistic care delivery. This transition could promise professional advancement opportunities through expanded roles in treatment planning and organizational leadership.
Additionally, counselors could be positioned to become essential educators and advocates in public mental health, while driving innovation in treatment delivery through technology integration and hybrid treatment models. The emphasis on collaborative care leadership enables counselors to coordinate interdisciplinary teams and bridge various health care providers. Please look for these opportunities and other ways for counselors to participate in the Make America Healthy Again Commission:
- Participate in public hearings and roundtables. The executive order specifically mentions these engagement opportunities. Counselors can provide testimony about non-pharmaceutical interventions and their effectiveness.
- Submit evidence and research. Compile and present evidence-based data demonstrating the effectiveness of counseling approaches for childhood mental health.
- Contribute to the assessment process. Because the commission will be examining psychiatric medications within 100 days, counselors can offer expertise on complementary and alternative approaches.
- Offer expertise on prevention strategies. Given the commission's focus on childhood chronic conditions, counselors can highlight early mental health intervention and prevention approaches.
- Propose concrete policy recommendations. Develop specific policy suggestions for the commission's comprehensive strategy due within 6 months.
- Document case studies. Provide anonymized success stories that demonstrate effective non-pharmaceutical interventions.
- Partner with commission leadership. Seek opportunities to collaborate with representatives from NIH, CDC, and FDA who are involved in the commission.
- Form advocacy coalitions. Work through organizations like NBCC to create unified positions and recommendations for the commission.
