The State Advisory Council on Mental Health was established in 1987 under the Minnesota Statute 245.697 within the Comprehensive Mental Health Act. The State Advisory Council is charged with making recommendations to the Governor, Legislature and state departments on mental health policies, programs and services. The Governor appoints the members of the State Advisory Council on Mental Health.
In making the appointments, the Governor shall consider appropriate representation of communities of color. The council must be composed of:
- The assistant commissioner of the Department of Human Services who oversees behavioral health policy
- A representative of the department of Human Services responsible for the medical assistance program
- one representative from each of the following advocacy groups: Mental Health Association of Minnesota, NAMI-MN, Minnesota Disability Law Center, American Indian Mental Health Advisory Council, and a consumer-run mental health advocacy group
Representatives of each of the following professions:
- psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing, marriage and family therapy, professional clinical counseling.
- Additional membership categories include individuals with lived experience of mental illness, parents and family members of those with mental illness, county commissioners; social service directors, advocacy organizations, legislators, and representatives of state agencies