The mission of SMI Adviser is to advance the use of a person-centered approach to care that ensures people who have serious mental illness (SMI) find the treatment and support they need.
SMI Adviser does this by providing evidence-based technical assistance to all mental health clinicians who provide care to individuals with SMI. This includes all professions in mental health: psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, counselors, and peer specialists.
SMI Adviser is also known as the Clinical Support System for Serious Mental Illness. This initiative is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and administered by the American Psychiatric Association.
What SMI Adviser Offers
SMI Adviser is a national initiative that serves clinicians and providers across all mental health practice settings. Our services offer evidence-based answers that support your clinical decisions for individuals who have bipolar disorder, recurrent major depression, and schizophrenia.
All of SMI Adviser’s services are completely free. Access them at SMIadviser.org.
Educational Opportunities
Access hundreds of free live and on-demand courses on unique topics related to SMI. This includes:
- Monthly live webinars that offer direct interaction with expert presenters
- On-demand courses and modules on topics that you face in clinical care
- Interactive virtual learning collaboratives that offer in-depth, 12-week deep dives on specific topics and let you network, share, and work together with colleagues on real-world challenges
Find evidence-based insights, earn CME/NCPD/CE credits, and enhance your clinical practice.
Vetted, Evidence-Based Resources
Access a searchable online database that offers hundreds of evidence-based answers and resources on SMI. Search by topic area or simply type something into the main search bar.
All information is reviewed and approved by our Clinical Expert Team (CET).
Clinician-to-Clinician Consultations
Any mental health professional can use our secure online system to submit questions on SMI. A national expert from our Clinical Expert Team (CET) responds directly to your question within one business day.
Our CET represent all professions within mental health and work with renowned organizations in academia and frontline care. Ask about:
- Care delivery systems
- Co-occurring disorders
- Crisis services
- Digital health
- Evidence-based therapies
- Medical comorbidities
- Patient and family engagement
- Peer support
- Psychiatric nursing
- Psychopharmacology
- Recovery supports
- Social work
- Special populations
- Systems-level strategies
- Workforce issues
- And any other topic related to SMI
It only takes two minutes to submit a question and it is completely confidential and FREE to use.
SMI Adviser also provides in-depth guidance to clinics, health systems, and entire communities that want to implement evidence-based systems of care for SMI. Simply tailor your question around exactly what you need and let us know what kind of organization you represent.
Centers of Excellence
SMI Adviser founded and maintains several Centers of Excellence (COEs) and other initiatives that promote evidence-based practices and resources on specific topics.
Clozapine Center of Excellence
The Clozapine COE focuses on increasing and improving the use of clozapine in treatment-refractory schizophrenia. It is led by Robert Cotes, MD, and the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors.
Long-Acting Injectable Center of Excellence
The LAI COE provides resources, education, consultations, and tools on using LAIs. It is led by Robert Cotes, MD, and Donna, Rolin, PhD, APRN.
Partnership to Advance Assisted Outpatient Treatment
SMI Adviser and the Treatment Advocacy Center are partnering to facilitate the national expansion of assisted outpatient treatment (AOT). Download a foundational white paper on implementing AOT, access online training modules, and view other related resources.
Resources on COVID-19
SMI Adviser offers specialized resources and education to help mental health clinicians cope with challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mobile Apps
Find these apps from SMI Adviser in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
SMI Adviser App
This app offers access all the features of the SMI Adviser website. It also includes validated clinical rating scales that interpret scores in real time for use at the point of care.
My Mental Health Crisis Plan
This app lets individuals take an active role in their mental health care. It lets any person create and share a psychiatric advance directive (PAD) so they are prepared in case of a mental health crisis.
Who Guides SMI Adviser
Amy N. Cohen, PhD
Project Director
SMI Adviser Clinical Expert Team
Members of the Clinical Expert Team (CET) represent all professions within mental health and work with renowned organizations in academia and frontline care. Their expertise spans psychiatry, psychology, nursing, social work, peer support, counseling, family support, and more. They also have experience across all levels of care delivery, from community-based clinics to regional care networks to large academic centers and health systems.
Content Partners
Clinical experts from these organizations provide content and resources for SMI Adviser.
- American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
- American Psychiatric Nurses Association
- Duke University
- Emory University Rollins School of Public Health
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Mental Health America
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
- Northwell Health
- NRI
- University of Michigan
- Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care
- Stanford University
- Treatment Advocacy Center
Advisory Board
Experts from these organizations advise the strategic planning of SMI Adviser.
- Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- American Academy of Physician Assistants
- American Association of Community Psychiatrists
- American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry
- American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training
- College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists
- National Association of Counties
- National Association of Peer Supporters
- National Association of Social Workers
- National Association for Behavioral Healthcare
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Representative from the consumer community
- Representative of a family member with lived experience
The SAMHSA Training and Technical Assistance Network
SMI Adviser is part of a network of SAMHSA-funded centers that offer tools, training, and technical assistance to practitioners.
- Addiction Technology Transfer Center
- Mental Health Technology Transfer Center
- Prevention Technology Transfer Center
- Expansion of Interprofessional Healthcare Practitioner SUD Education
- Providers Clinical Support System
- Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information
- African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence
- Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity
- Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging
- Homeless and Housing Resource Center
- National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders
- National Family Support Technical Assistance Center
- Peer Recovery Center of Excellence
How to Learn More
There are several ways you can get involved with SMI Adviser right now.
- Send media inquiries via email to [email protected].
- Get notified about new live webinars, on-demand courses, and resources from SMI Adviser. Visit SMIadviser.org and sign up for the SMI Adviser newsletter.
Funding for SMI Adviser was made possible by Grant No. SM080818 from SAMHSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by SAMHSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.