President's New Freedom
Commission on Mental Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Mark Weber
July 8, 2002 Phone: 301-443-8956

President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health Launches Website

To promote broad participation, solicit public comments, and provide information, the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health launched its new website today, www.MentalHealthCommission.gov.

The website allows those interested to follow the progress of this first comprehensive study of the nation's public and private mental health service delivery system in nearly 25 years.

President George W. Bush announced the creation of The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque on April 29, 2002. In his address, the President stated, "Our country must make a commitment: Americans with mental illness deserve our understanding, and they deserve excellent care."

The President charged the commission with conducting a comprehensive study of the United States mental health service delivery system, including both private and public sector providers, and advising him on methods of improving the system.

"The website illustrates President Bush's commitment to ensuring all voices are heard as the Commission works to develop a plan to improve the nation's mental health service delivery system," said Michael Hogan, Ph.D., commission chairman. "We want to use the technology available to spread the word about the commission's efforts, and to gather as much input as possible from a broad range of stakeholders, including people with mental illness and their family members, health care providers, government agencies, academics, researchers, and others with knowledge about mental health."

In addition to learning about the commission's mission, leadership, and the schedule for meetings over the next year, those who log on will be able to submit comments on what is working and not working in the current mental health system and suggestions for improvement for the commission to explore.

The commission, which held its first meetings on June 18 and 19, 2002, is already working to:

• Review the current quality and effectiveness of public and private providers and federal, state, and local government involvement in the delivery of services to individuals with serious mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disturbances, and identify unmet needs and barriers to services;
• Identify innovative mental health treatments, services, and technologies that are demonstratively effective and can be widely replicated in different settings;
• Formulate policy options that could be implemented by public and private providers and federal, state, and local governments to integrate the use of effective treatments and services, improve coordination among service providers, and improve community integration for adults with serious mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disturbances.

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