More than 4.1 million health workers gain safer path to mental healthcare 

10 dental boards recognized for removing intrusive questions 

More than 4.1 million U.S. healthcare workers now have a safer, confidential path to accessing mental health and substance use disorder care as a national initiative continues to remove intrusive mental health questions from licensing and credentialing applications. 

The ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare coalition, led by the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation, announced that 82 state licensing boards, 1,087 hospitals and 3,306 other care facilities have verified that their applications are free of intrusive mental health questions. The milestone represents a 437% increase in protected health workers since September 2023, according to the foundation. 

The effort is part of the Wellbeing First Champion Challenge, which encourages licensing boards and healthcare organizations to audit and revise applications that may discourage health professionals from seeking mental health or substance use disorder care. 

The American Dental Association is among the national organizations supporting the coalition’s efforts. 

“When we care for the mental health of those who care for us, we build a healthier, stronger country for everyone,” said ADA President Richard Rosato, D.M.D. “The American Dental Association commends licensure agencies in their continued efforts to support millions of healthcare workers by removing stigmas from licensure applications and supporting programs that will greatly impact our current and future workforce.” 

As of Sept. 25, 82 state licensing boards had been recognized as Wellbeing First Champions, including 10 dental boards, 46 medical boards, 13 pharmacy boards, 11 nursing boards and two specialty boards. Together, the licensing changes affect nearly 3.6 million licensed health workers nationwide, according to the foundation. 

“Changing the paperwork is only the beginning. The real transformation happens when leaders openly normalize mental health care,” said Corey Feist, CEO and co-founder of the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation, in the news release. “The relentless commitment to transparent communication and visible advocacy for and access to help-seeking builds the trust and psychological safety needed to save the lives and sustain the careers of our healthcare workforce.” 

Another nearly 558,000 credentialed health workers are affected by changes at hospitals and other healthcare facilities. In addition to 1,087 hospitals, participating facilities include 297 freestanding emergency departments, 337 freestanding surgery centers, 1,157 urgent care centers and 1,515 independent primary care clinics, according to the foundation. 

The number of dental licensing boards recognized by the initiative has continued to grow. In 2025, five dental boards had been recognized as Wellbeing First Champions, benefiting nearly 65,000 dental professionals. The latest announcement shows that 10 dental boards, which represent 146,647 dental professionals, have now verified that their applications are free of intrusive mental health questions. 

Other states have taken steps to address potentially stigmatizing questions on dental licensure applications but have not been verified as Wellbeing First Champions by the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation. According to the ADA, Massachusetts and New York do not include intrusive mental health questions on their dental licensure applications. Minnesota and Virginia have also reviewed their licensure questions and undertaken reforms aimed at removing language that could discourage dentists from seeking mental health or substance use disorder care. 

The initiative emphasizes continued communication about mental healthcare after organizations revise their applications. According to the foundation, participating organizations have reported creating peer support groups and increasing visible leadership engagement as part of efforts to normalize seeking mental healthcare. 

The Wellbeing First Champion Challenge is part of an effort to address barriers to mental healthcare among the estimated 22 million health workers in the U.S. The coalition provides licensing boards and health systems with resources and technical assistance to audit, revise, verify and communicate changes to their applications. 

The initiative honors Lorna Breen, M.D., an emergency physician who died by suicide in 2020. The Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation works to advance changes aimed at protecting the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers. 

The ADA recently updated its Preventing Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Discrimination in Dentist Licensure and Credentialing — Resource Toolkit, which includes information and resources for state dental associations, dental boards, credentialing organizations and dental professionals related to licensure and credentialing reform.