Leading from the Middle: Practical Innovation in Public Mental Health

Leaders in public mental health are responsible for ensuring the care environment is conducive to provider wellbeing, and ultimately patient care. Given the effects of stress and burnout, healthcare organizations must explore interventions to support their employees. The Leadership + Innovation Lab is a pilot project focused on enhancing leadership skills, innovation capacity, and peer connections among clinical managers. Participants executed individual or group projects to improve the care environment and co-created a peer consultation program. They reported increased connection with peers, innovation and leadership skills, and capacity to facilitate a better experience for their provider staff as a result of the program. This model can be used in other settings to help achieve the goals of the Quadruple Aim and improve communication.