Community Leaders Call Current Mental Health Treatment System Major Problem; Consequences Include Overburdened Emergency Medical, Education Systems 11/5/2003
From: Jaymie Gustafson, 703-741-7506, Lisa Magnino, 703-741-7053, both of NAMI Campaign for the Mind of America News Advisory: A recent Peter D. Hart Research Associates survey of community leaders from the fields of law enforcement, education, business and health care, found that a majority agreed that the U.S. mental health treatment system is severely flawed and fails to provide adequate diagnosis, treatment, and services for adults and young Americans with mental illness. The failure of the system costs the nation more than $70 billion annually to lost productivity, and when the costs of the police officers, teachers, doctors and others acting as the front line in the mental health treatment system are added in, the cost rises to as much as $300 billion per year. Join the Campaign for the Mind of America on Monday, Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. at the National Press Club for: -- the release of the results of the opinion leaders survey on the state of the U.S. mental health treatment system and services -- the announcement of an unprecedented national alliance with leaders from the fields of law enforcement, education, business and health care -- the announcement of the first state action networks in Florida, Massachusetts, Kentucky, West Virginia, Iowa and Maine The Campaign for the Mind of America, chaired by NAMI, is a multi-year national initiative to increase access to mental health treatment services by changing public policies and priorities at the local, state and federal levels. WHAT: Press conference release of Hart Research national survey of community leaders' views on improving access to the mental health treatment system WHO: -- Richard Birkel, Ph.D., executive director, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill -- Douglas Duncan, county executive, Montgomery County, Maryland; National Association of Counties Representatives from partner groups in the fields of education, law enforcement, health care, and business, including: Academy of Emergency Physicians, National Association of Police Organizations, National Medical Association, The Child Welfare League of America, National Association of Academic Health Centers, National Association of City and County Health Officials, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Society for Adolescent Medicine WHEN: Monday, Nov. 10, 10 a.m. EST WHERE: National Press Club, Holeman Lounge; or join via teleconference at 1-888-882-NEWS |