 |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Dear Friends and Colleagues, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Welcome to this historic conference! Thank you so much for joining with us! |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
You are each here to stand and be counted as consumers and professionals who support building a pro-consumer, humane, and effective health care and mental health care system. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
We are deeply grateful to House Minority leader Richard A. Gephardt for his speech today on the future of mental health care. His leadership on health care issues has been a major driving force for the public policies of our country. His genuine caring for and appreciation of the value of each individual is the hallmark of his work and his life. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
We also very much appreciate Congressman Kennedy for speaking with us today. He has taken on improving mental health care as his personal mission. Bravo and thank you! It is sad that it still takes great courage for a national leader to make mental health a primary issue. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The efforts and vision of both of these leaders on mental health issues will shape the laws and direction of Congress for years to come. They came here today to talk with us and to listen to us. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Only an informed public can move Congress to repair the damage wrought by managed care and restore medical and professional ethics and basic human values to the health care system. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The aim of all of us at this conference is to inform America about what real mental health care is, to provide the ethical and moral principles to guide the development of any new system of health care. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
As a physician, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst in practice for over 25 years, at first I watched in helpless horror as access to effective treatment for people with mental illnesses, addictive disorders, or severe emotional distress was deliberately and systematically eliminated. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
But none of us are helpless unless we stay silent and still. Like each of you, I have learned that I must speak, act, write, educate, advocate, and demand that the discriminatory and abusive system of mental health care in this nation be replaced. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
I joined the Coalition of Mental Health Professionals and Consumers because it was THE single most effective group in bringing media and public attention to the disaster managed care has wrought for those with mental illness. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
None of the large professional or consumer organizations have had anywhere near the impact of this smaller but extremely dedicated coalition. And the National Coalition does exactly what we all know we should be doing: working together hand-in hand with consumers and across disciplines to forge consensus and advocate for positive change. The National Coalition is a model of collaboration and effective advocacy for changing our failed mental health system. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
I am very honored to be your next President and will be devoted to working with you to inform America about what it will take to provide everyone with real mental health care. Join the Coalition and help us change the mental health system in this country. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Deborah C. Peel, M.D. President |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Help to support the National Coalition by purchasing logo items from
our
store
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
