Mental Health Association of Maryland Announces

Retirement of CEO Linda Raines After 40 Years of Transformative Leadership

After 40 extraordinary years of leadership, Linda Raines has announced her retirement from the Mental Health Association of Maryland (MHAMD). The Board of Directors looks to the future with confidence and is profoundly grateful for her vision, her tireless dedication, and the extraordinary legacy she leaves behind — one that will continue to shape MHAMD's mission for generations to come.

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2026 Session Summary

Maryland’s 2026 legislative session ended on April 13. Despite a $1.5 billion budget deficit, MHAMD and our coalition partners were successful in preserving and expanding mental health and substance use funding, services, and protections.

Read our session summaryCheck out our final bill list

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Mental Health First Aid

Just as CPR trains people to help someone in a physical crisis, Mental Health First Aid® teaches people how to recognize and respond to a person experiencing a mental health or substance use concern or crisis and to connect them to appropriate care.

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About MHAMD

Advocating for better mental health in Maryland for over 100 years.

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MHAMD believes every person has a right to respect, dignity, and the opportunity to achieve their full potential free from stigma and prejudice. We're working to ensure that all Marylanders have access to high-quality behavioral healthcare.

Advocacy

Influencing policy to assure all Marylanders have access to quality behavioral health care.

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Training

Training professionals and everyday Marylanders how to help those with behavioral health needs.

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Community Outreach & Education

Offering behavioral health education and resources for all stages of life.

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Services Oversight

Providing oversight to improve the quality of Maryland's public behavioral health system.

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Resources

MHAMD’s library of free resources provides information on behavioral health throughout all stages of life.

Advocacy

The Mental Health Association of Maryland’s public policy staff works with the Maryland legislature, members of Congress, government officials, and other stakeholders including consumers, family members, mental health professionals, and other advocates to affect laws and policies at the State and Federal levels.

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Coalitions

MHAMD chairs a number of coalitions addressing behavioral health in Maryland.

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The Issues

Each year MHAMD works on close to 100 proposed pieces of legislation.

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Training

MHAMD’s training programs focus on delivering mental health training to health care professionals and laypeople.

Mental Health First Aid Maryland®
Mental Health First Aid Maryland®

Mental Health First Aid is a nationally certified course that teaches the skills needed to recognize signs of a mental health or substance use disorder crisis and take action.

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Engage with™
Engage with™

Engage with™ is a comprehensive skills-based training designed to increase awareness and develop the skills needed to engage in caring for older adults.

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Vibrant Aging: Peers Program
Vibrant Aging: Peers Program

MHAMD is pleased to offer Behavioral Health, Aging & Peer Support for Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS) or anyone who provides peer support.

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Mental Health First Aid Maryland®
Mental Health First Aid Maryland®
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Engage with™
Engage with™
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Vibrant Aging: Peers Program
Vibrant Aging: Peers Program
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Community Outreach

MHAMD’s community outreach and education programs provide Marylanders of all ages with information to improve understanding of mental health and illness, increase knowledge of effective interventions, and strengthen pathways to care.

Children’s Mental Health Matters
Children’s Mental Health Matters

MHAMD’s children’s mental health efforts raise awareness of children’s mental health needs and enhance outreach efforts to families and communities.

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Healthy New Moms
Healthy New Moms

Healthy New Moms works to raise awareness of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and offer support and resources to moms, families and providers across the state.

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Vibrant Minds
Vibrant Minds

MHAMD established its Older Adult Program to address the need for widespread education and advocacy regarding mental wellness and the aging process.

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Children’s Mental Health Matters
Children’s Mental Health Matters
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Healthy New Moms
Healthy New Moms
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Vibrant Minds
Vibrant Minds
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Consumer Quality Team of Maryland

The Consumer Quality Team of Maryland partners with consumers, providers, and funding agencies to present, discuss, and find resolutions to problems that consumers experience in the public behavioral health system.

Immediate Help

If you or a loved one needs assistance or is thinking of suicide, please get help immediately.

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MHAMD offers a variety of ways to support our work.

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