More Good Days, Together. This year’s Mental Health Awareness Month theme from Mental Health America (MHA) captures something we all strive for—connection, wellbeing, support, and thriving communities.

It’s also a call to action. Through public health, we have real opportunities to help make those good days more possible. We play a unique role in strengthening connections—ensuring people have access to the support, resources, and environments they need to care for their health and one another.

We’re proud of our partnership with MHA and Child Trends in a CDC initiative to support school communities in developing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based policies, practices, and programs that support both student and staff social, emotional, and mental health. To learn more, visit NACDD’s School Health Resource Hub or take a course in NACDD’s Advancing Emotional Well-Being in Schools training series.

Another way to support “more good days” is through helping manage chronic conditions that impact mobility, independence, and quality of life. Arthritis Awareness Month brings that into focus and underscores the importance of the work happening in this space. Arthritis affects nearly 1 in 4 adults in the U.S., and arthritis-related pain and mobility limitations can lead to isolation, reduced activity, and poorer mental health. Yet research shows that appropriate physical activity is one of the most effective non-drug strategies for reducing pain, improving function, and supporting overall wellbeing.

To ensure healthcare providers are equipped to support this approach, NACDD partnered with CDC and Medscape Education to develop an online clinical assessment focused on arthritis-appropriate, evidence-based interventions. Findings from this effort were recently published in CDC’s Preventing Chronic Disease journal and revealed critical gaps, including limited awareness among clinicians of the strong evidence supporting physical activity for arthritis management and its connection to coronary artery disease. These gaps point to the need for ongoing education, practical tools, and stronger systems that support patients.

Together with CDC and other partners, NACDD is developing an evidence-informed public health framework for collaborative arthritis management and wellbeing, along with resources and training to help states put this framework into action.

D.C. Visits
Recently, Liz Ruth, VP of NACDD’s Center for Health Policy, and I met with Congressional staff in Washington, D.C. to elevate the critical work happening in your states and territories and to reinforce the value of continued investment in programs that improve health outcomes and reduce long-term costs. We carry your experiences, successes, and challenges with us, and we remain committed to ensuring that your voices are represented in these national discussions.

Efforts in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands
Finally, as we observe Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we extend deep appreciation to our partners across the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands, where communities experience some of the highest burdens of chronic disease. Through efforts like the Pacific Chronic Disease Council and the Non‑Communicable Disease Collaborative, NACDD works alongside local leaders to strengthen capacity and support culturally meaningful, community‑driven approaches.

Our hearts are with communities across the Pacific as they recover from the devastating impacts of Typhoon Sinlaku – especially Saipan and Tinian in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. We remain committed to supporting our partners and Members as they work to restore essential services and care amid the catastrophic destruction and loss of critical infrastructure. We wish everyone affected a speedy recovery and return to normalcy as well.