As the East Metro Mental Health Roundtable convened today for its first meeting of the year, the group reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to improving mental health care across the region. Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her will serve as co-chair alongside HealthPartners President and CEO Andrea Walsh.

Founded in 2008, the East Metro Mental Health Roundtable brings together health care providers, community organizations, advocates and public leaders to address mental health needs that no single organization can solve alone. The group has met consistently for nearly two decades, creating space for collaboration, shared learning and collective action. The first roundtable was co-chaired by then Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and former HealthPartners President and CEO Mary Brainerd.

“The Roundtable helps turn shared commitment into real on-the-ground support for the people and communities we serve. We’re grateful for Mayor Her’s leadership and for the many partners who continue this work with us,” said Andrea Walsh, HealthPartners President and CEO. “By advancing this work together, we can make mental health care easier to access and more affordable.”

With representatives from more than 85 organizations, the public-private partnership fosters collaboration, stability and progress at a time when mental health needs remain significant.

“Strong communities depend on a strong continuum of mental health supports,” Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her said. “I’m proud to continue this tradition of partnership that brings people together across sectors to focus on solutions that improve access to care and support the well-being of our residents.”

Drug assistance program reduces mental health emergencies

One of the East Metro Mental Health Roundtable’s most enduring successes is the Mental Health Drug Assistance Program. Through this program, HealthPartners, Allina Health and M Health Fairview each contribute funding to help cover the cost of essential psychiatric medications for people who cannot afford them. By supporting access to medication, the program helps individuals stay stable and avoid mental health emergencies.

According to the 2026 Mental Health Drug Assistance Program report, the program continues to provide prescription medication support to patients who experience severe mental illness. Last year, the program provided for the full cost or co-pays of more than 1,800 prescriptions.

The East Metro Mental Health Roundtable also partners with the East Metro Crisis Alliance, a group of front-line workers and managers that coordinates access to resources for people experiencing a mental health crisis and improves their care. Since 2001, the Alliance has worked as an innovative public-private partnership comprised of counties, hospitals, health plans, consumer organizations and the state, whose purpose is to improve the crisis system in Ramsey, Dakota and Washington counties. This work includes monthly networking and resource sharing meetings, improving care transitions, addressing gaps and developing new programs and services.

NAMI Minnesota has been a voice for consumers on the Roundtable since its inception. "Every day, we see what's possible when people come together around mental health, and we also see how far we still have to go," said Marcus Schmit, executive director of NAMI Minnesota. "Too many Minnesotans are struggling to get the care they need, and the moment demands more than good intentions, it demands action. That's what the East Metro Mental Health Roundtable is built for. It brings private practitioners, county leaders, and local businesses to the same table to work through real problems together. It's a group that shows up, for the community and with the community, and I'm grateful NAMI Minnesota gets to be part of it."

The East Metro Mental Health Roundtable has increased its meeting cadence in recent years to maintain momentum and deepen collaboration. In addition to the medication assistance program, members regularly spotlight community-based solutions, identify gaps in care and explore new opportunities to improve mental health access and outcomes in the East Metro.