Heath Holt Hayes resides in Oklahoma City and serves as the Chief Communications Officer for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Heath’s responsibilities are focused on leading a cross-functional team engaged with strategic initiatives that include policy implementation, program development, and service delivery, as well as community organizing, governmental affairs, and public relations. Heath is a nationally recognized leader helping others embrace lived experience with mental health and has successfully integrated recovery-oriented, holistic, and person-driven continuums of care at the local, state, and national levels.

In addition, Heath is a member of the American Psychiatric Association’s Policy Advisory Board, Co-Chairs the National Association State Mental Health Program Directors’ Division of Recovery Support Services, and is alumni of the National Council for Behavioral Health’s Addressing Health Disparities Leadership program. Heath received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Central Oklahoma and several graduate degrees from the University of Oklahoma in Human Relations, Administrative Leadership, and a Women’s and Gender Studies.

Agency Mission

The mission of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is to promote healthy communities and provide the highest quality care to enhance the well-being of all Oklahomans.

And this is what they will be discussing:

What is 988?

988 is a direct, three-digit line to trained behavioral health professionals that can open the door for all Oklahomans to seek the help they need, while sending the message that healing, hope and help are happening every day. The Federal Communications Commission adopted rules to establish 988 and turns it on nationally July 1, 2022. 988 is the first step to a multi-level crisis response.