Award honors leaders committed to advancing mental health and substance use disorder policies, treatment access

State Rep. Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington) has been recognized as a 2025 State Legislative Champion by Mental Health America (MHA), a national nonprofit dedicated to improving mental health and well-being.

The award recognizes a bipartisan group of state legislative leaders who have advanced policies in 2025 to strengthen behavioral health systems, expand prevention and treatment resources, reduce barriers to care, and improve the lives of people living with mental health and substance use conditions in their states.

Rep. VanderWall is the chair of the House Health Policy Committee and has spent his career working to improve access to care. Some of his efforts include championing a bill to allow public facilities to distribute opioid antagonists, making the life-saving drug more available in local communities. He has also helped pass an interstate healthcare licensure compact bill, which helps address the state’s shortage of mental health professionals by attracting those located in other states to take jobs in Michigan.

“I’m grateful to this impactful organization not only for this recognition, but more importantly for the work it does to improve the mental health care landscape in our country,” VanderWall said. “There’s much more work to be done, but this recognition symbolizes the progress that Michigan has made over the past year toward improved care and support for those impacted by mental health and substance use afflictions. I look forward to continuing my commitment to these efforts in the new year.”

MHA’s honorees were celebrated during Mental Health America’s Regional Policy Council meeting in Chicago on Dec. 9. The council brings together policy experts from across the country who advocate on behalf of those living with mental health and substance-use conditions.