Mohini Venkatesh, MPH

Mohini Venkatesh, MPH, joined the National Council in 2007, serving in numerous positions leading quality improvement, workforce, consulting and business development initiatives before assuming her newly established role as chief of staff within the Office of the CEO in October 2022. A connector of people, ideas and initiatives, she works closely with the CEO, board of directors and other leadership in navigating the National Council’s growth and internal changes to better position its impact against its mission and strategic goals.

By building connections with the National Council’s membership over several years, she has seen the impact of those working to improve mental wellbeing and the escalating challenges they face, such as workforce shortages and social determinants impacting access to care. Inspired by the resolve of others to do good, she strives for the National Council — alongside its members — to positively influence the lives of people in the U.S. with mental health and substance use challenges to ensure access to care when and where they need it. She believes in the organization’s vision for the future and using every means possible — policy, training and education; a vast and diverse network; and much more — to develop greater understanding of the challenges surrounding mental health and substance use treatment and promote solutions of impact.

Venkatesh’s career has also included work at a hospital-based psychiatric unit, several social service nonprofit organizations and a state association advocating for community mental health and substance use services. She received her master’s degree in public health from Yale University and bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.