APA, NAMI Host Mental Illness Awareness Week Congressional Luncheon Symposium

9/24/2002

From: Julie Abadie of the American Psychiatric Association, 202-682-5056, jabadie@psych.org

News Advisory:

WHAT: To commemorate Mental Illness Awareness Week, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) are co-hosting the 2002 Mental Illness Awareness Week Luncheon Symposium titled "Science and Mental Health Parity," which will address the scientific advances in biomedical and behavioral psychiatric research and treatment, and how these advances support the need for mental health parity legislation.

The keynote speaker, Richard Nakamura, Ph.D., acting director, National Institute of Mental Health, will discuss scientific advances in biomedical and behavioral psychiatric research and treatment effectiveness. Additional speakers will address the increasing need for mental health parity legislation.

The Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) Congressional Symposium was established to focus on timely issues affecting the mentally ill, those who care for and about them, and to highlight research advances in prevention, treatment and diagnosis of mental illness.

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 2 12 - 2 p.m.

WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2168 Washington, D.C.

WHO: -- Richard Nakamura, Ph.D., acting director, National Institute of Mental Health -- Herbert Pardes, M.D., president and CEO, New York Presbyterian Hospital -- Jay Scully, M.D., medical director designate, American Psychiatric Association -- Jim McNulty, board president, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill -- Paul Appelbaum, M.D., president, American Psychiatric Association

NOTE: Lunch will be served. RSVP to 202-682-6060 by Sept. 27.

------ The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical specialty society, founded in 1844, whose 38,000 physician members specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illnesses including substance use disorders. For more information, visit the APA web site at http://www.psych.org.