Call for Action:

It’s Time for Mental Health

We have made enormous progress in the area of mental health over the last 100 years.  While we also face great challenges, we possess the resources to meet them. Now we must work to put them into action. It’s Time for Mental Health

Following decades of rigorous scientific work, we now know that mental illnesses are diseases of the brain that can be reliably diagnosed and effectively treated.  We possess the knowledge and techniques that can help millions of Americans manage threats to their mental health, stay resilient and live healthy and productive lives.  Recovery is not only possible, but likely.

The challenges that so many Americans face today demand urgent action when it comes to mental health.  The economic crisis is wrecking havoc with families, causing stress and likely increasing rates of depression.

Thousands of veterans and their families are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with the invisible wounds of war that keep them from enjoying a true welcome home. Soldiers still on duty are also dealing with psychological trauma.

But over two-thirds of adults and over one-half of children with a diagnosable mental health condition do not receive the treatment and services they need. Mental health and substance abuse problems are among the most chronic and disabling of all medical conditions, driving up health costs and destroying employee productivity and school achievement. People with serious mental illnesses die on average 25 years earlier than the rest of the population.

That’s why it’s time for mental health. It’s time for businesses and elected leaders to invest in mental health and make it integral to our overall health.

It’s time for mental health to be part of our everyday lives, to provide Americans with the knowledge and skills that will protect and strengthen their mental health, respond to threats and equip them to persevere through tough times.

It’s time to give mental health the voice and attention it deserves because it is essential to the health and well-being of every American. 

It’s Time for Mental Health.