In May 2023, Cara McNulty made an emotional announcement on LinkedIn that she would be stepping down as president of Behavioral Health and Mental Well-being at CVS Health (NYSE: CVS). Reflecting on her five years at the company, McNulty expressed deep gratitude for her time there, calling it the “experience and honor of a lifetime.” She also took the opportunity to praise Karen Lynch, CEO of CVS, calling her “a leader of leaders,” and acknowledged the significant impact Lynch had on her professional growth. While McNulty’s departure from CVS marked the end of a notable chapter in her career, the next phase remained a mystery—until two months later, when Cara McNulty Vibrant Emotional Health was announced as the new CEO of the organization.
This marked a major milestone in Cara McNulty Vibrant Emotional Health’s career—her first role as CEO, a position she stepped into with excitement and anticipation. Her career, which includes leadership roles at well-known publicly traded corporations such as CVS and Target, as well as experience in public health with the Minnesota Department of Public Health, has uniquely prepared her to lead a complex organization like Vibrant.
As Cara McNulty Vibrant Emotional Health embarks on this new role, she has an ambitious vision for the future of mental health care—one that is more accessible, inclusive, and effective. Her focus is clear: democratizing access to mental health care, improving systems, and ensuring that every individual in crisis can get the help they need.
Democratizing Mental Health Care: McNulty’s Vision
During an interview with Behavioral Health Business, Cara McNulty Vibrant Emotional Health elaborated on her vision for Vibrant, emphasizing her commitment to making mental health care more accessible to everyone. She explained that mental health care today often leaves much to be desired. “Not many people go through the mental health care system and say, ‘Gosh, that was the greatest experience I’ve ever had,’” she shared. Despite this, she remains optimistic, stating, “But that’s where we need to strive to get to.”
McNulty’s goal at Vibrant is clear—she wants to create a system where individuals not only get the support they need but do so in a way that feels humane, efficient, and effective. The good news for McNulty is that, at Cara McNulty Vibrant Emotional Health, she now has the tools and resources to bring this vision to life.
Vibrant, established over 55 years ago as the Mental Health Association of New York City (MHANYC), has seen considerable growth and evolution, particularly in recent years. The nonprofit’s focus on suicide prevention, crisis care services, and broader mental health programs has attracted significant federal funding. In fiscal year 2023, Vibrant’s operating revenue skyrocketed to $331 million, with 80% of that amount coming from federal grants through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These grants have been particularly helpful in supporting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s 988 dialing code, a critical tool for individuals in mental health crises.
“Over the last two years, we’ve had 10 million calls to 988,” Cara McNulty Vibrant Emotional Health said. The sheer volume of calls underscores the importance of the 988 Lifeline, which provides immediate, life-saving assistance and connects individuals with crisis care centers across the country. These centers are vital in providing both immediate and follow-up support to people experiencing a mental health emergency.
Building on Her Legacy of Data-Driven Suicide Prevention
At CVS, Cara McNulty Vibrant Emotional Health spearheaded a highly successful suicide prevention initiative aimed at identifying individuals at risk before they reached the point of crisis. By analyzing patient data from Aetna-insured members, McNulty’s team was able to identify 20 to 25 indicators that might suggest a person is at risk of suicide. Armed with this information, the team could initiate early interventions—helping to prevent potential suicide attempts.
The initiative proved successful, reducing suicide attempts in the adult population by almost 17% during its first year. This data-driven approach has proven to be highly effective, and McNulty plans to continue leveraging similar data-driven strategies at Vibrant. “We’re going to continue to stabilize the clinical infrastructure and technology that supports the back end of our crisis care lines,” she said. By improving the way Cara McNulty Vibrant Emotional Health processes and responds to data, McNulty believes the organization can make even greater strides in supporting individuals who are in crisis.
Vibrant has already demonstrated a commitment to innovation through its use of technology. For instance, Vibrant employs geolocation technology to route individuals to nearby crisis care resources, ensuring that patients are connected with the most appropriate services based on their geographical location. This approach can be especially useful in rural or underserved areas, where mental health resources are often scarce.
In addition to its crisis care services, Vibrant runs several specialized care lines for specific populations, such as veterans, individuals dealing with gambling addiction, and those in need of long-term mental health support. These programs play a critical role in providing tailored, responsive care for individuals who might otherwise fall through the cracks in the broader mental health system.
Expanding Vibrant’s Reach: Community-Based Programs
In addition to its nationwide crisis care services, Cara McNulty Vibrant Emotional Health operates community-based programs tailored to the unique needs of specific groups. One such program, based in the Bronx, serves adults over the age of 50 who are dealing with serious mental health issues. Many of these programs are funded through New York City government grants, and McNulty sees these community-focused initiatives as a vital part of Vibrant’s future.
“One of the things I’m really passionate about is replicating these community programs in other areas,” Cara McNulty Vibrant Emotional Health said. Vibrant’s goal is to expand its reach, ensuring that more individuals, regardless of where they live, can access the mental health services they need. McNulty is particularly focused on reaching diverse populations, including those who identify as LGBTQ+ and individuals enrolled in Medicaid.
By expanding its community programs, Vibrant can address the unique needs of various groups, ensuring that everyone—from young people to older adults, from urban residents to rural communities—has access to effective, compassionate mental health care.
Leadership Lessons from Karen Lynch at CVS
Cara McNulty Vibrant Emotional Health’s leadership style has been heavily influenced by her experience working under Karen Lynch at CVS. McNulty was inspired by Lynch’s ability to simplify complex behavioral health issues and her focus on collaboration between patients, insurers, and providers. McNulty shares Lynch’s belief that the mental health system should be as streamlined as possible to ensure that patients receive timely and effective care.
“Karen is fierce and will not settle for less than stellar when it comes to mental health support,” McNulty commented. Lynch’s focus on creating a cohesive and collaborative approach to behavioral health care will be a guiding principle for McNulty as she leads Vibrant.
“I want to see more outcomes metrics in mental health,” Cara McNulty Vibrant Emotional Health stated. Just as there are clear metrics for physical health procedures, she believes mental health care should be evaluated with the same rigor. This data-driven approach to measuring success and improving outcomes is central to McNulty’s philosophy.
But perhaps the most important lesson McNulty learned from Lynch is the importance of simplifying the mental health experience for patients. “When people aren’t at their best or are suffering, that’s when their resiliency is at its lowest,” McNulty explained. “We have to make the experience as simplified as possible.” This philosophy underscores McNulty’s broader mission to improve the mental health care system in a way that prioritizes patient well-being and ease of access.
The Board’s Confidence in McNulty
Jennifer Ashley, the board chair for Vibrant, expressed her full confidence in McNulty’s ability to lead the organization into its next phase. “From the moment we met Cara, we were fairly confident she would be Vibrant’s next leader,” Ashley said. “As we learned more about her passion for our mission, the depth of her prior experiences, and her ‘people first’ leadership style, we became certain she was the ideal choice to guide Vibrant forward.”
Cara McNulty Vibrant Emotional Health’s track record of success, her innovative approach to mental health care, and her people-centered leadership style made her the obvious choice to lead Vibrant. With her at the helm, the organization is well-positioned to expand its impact, reach more individuals in need, and transform the way mental health care is delivered across the country.
In Conclusion: A Bright Future for Vibrant Emotional Health
As Cara McNulty Vibrant Emotional Health takes on this new leadership role, she brings a wealth of experience, a clear vision, and a deep commitment to improving the mental health system. At Vibrant Emotional Health, McNulty will have the opportunity to apply her data-driven strategies, her passion for expanding access to mental health care, and her focus on simplifying the patient experience. With these goals in mind, McNulty is poised to make a significant and lasting impact on the mental health landscape, helping to create a system where care is more accessible, efficient, and compassionate for all. As Vibrant continues to grow and evolve under her leadership, there is little doubt that McNulty’s vision will shape the future of mental health care in meaningful ways.
