WEB CHAT ON MENTAL HEALTH PARITY WITH SAMHSA ADMINISTRATOR

> Media Advisory
>>
>> In an effort to improve access to quality, effective mental health care
>> and overcome the obstacles of stigma, the Bush Administration recently
>> announced the formation of the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. -
>> charged to study the problems and gaps in our current system of mental
>> health treatment and make concrete recommendations for immediate
>> improvements to be implemented at the federal, state and community level
>> as well as public and private health care providers.
>>
>> SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie, M.A., A.C.S.W., will host an
>> online
>> discussion to discuss mental health parity and the President's New
>> Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Issues to be addressed include
>> identifying needs of patients, examining barriers to care and
>> investigating community-based care models that have success in
>> coordinating and providing mental health services. This webchat is being
>> held in recognition of May as National Mental Health Month.
>>
>> The stigma of mental illness often discourages patients from seeking care
>> despite the existence of new drugs and therapies that have vastly
>> improved
>> the chances for effective treatment and recovery. Without access to
>> necessary and effective quality care, far too many Americans will live
>> with untreated mental illness that too often can lead to homelessness,
>> drug and alcohol addiction or incarceration.
>>
>> Curie was appointed by President George W. Bush in November 2001 as
>> Administrator of SAMHSA, the lead federal agency for improving the
>> quality
>> and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment and
>> mental health services in the United States. He has over 20 years of
>> professional experience in the mental health and substance arena. His
>> core commitment to ensuring that people with addictive and mental
>> disorders have the opportunity to realize the dream of equal access to
>> full participation in American society has earned him national
>> recognition.
>>
>>
>> WHO: Charles G. Curie, M.A., A.C.S.W., Administrator SAMHSA
>>
>> WHEN: May 23, 2002; 3:00p.m. - 4:00p.m., EST
>>
>> WHERE: http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/newsroom/webchat/
>>
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