Tuesday, July 22, 2003

Final Report to the President: President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health
The New Freedom Commission today issued its long-awaited final report, and this page at their web site indexes a variety of related documents, including a web-based version of the final report (with an executive summary) and an Adobe Acrobat version of the full report. The executive summary notes that "To achieve the promise of community living for everyone, new service delivery patterns and incentives must ensure that every American has easy and continuous access to the most current treatments and best support services. Advances in research, technology, and our understanding of how to treat mental illnesses provide powerful means to transform the system. In a transformed system, consumers and family members will have access to timely and accurate information that promotes learning, self-monitoring, and accountability. Health care providers will rely on up-to-date knowledge to provide optimum care for the best outcomes. .... Transforming the system so that it will be both consumer and family centered and recovery-oriented in its care and services presents invigorating challenges. Incentives must change to encourage continuous improvement in agencies that provide care. New, relevant research findings must be systematically conveyed to front-line providers so that they can be applied to practice quickly. Innovative strategies must inform researchers of the unanswered questions of consumers, families, and providers. Research and treatment must recognize both the commonalities and the differences among Americans and must offer approaches that are sensitive to our diversity. Treatment and services that are based on proven effectiveness and consumer preference - not just on tradition or outmoded regulations - must be the basis for reimbursements."

See also National Council on Disability Applauds Presidential Mental Health Report, the NMHA press release, President’s Commission Offers Prescription for Broken Mental Health System, the initial statement by SAMHSA Director Charles Curie, the AP story reprinted at PsycPORT, New Ways Sought to Treat Mentally Ill, and President's Commission Reports on America's Crumbling Mental Health System and Mental Health Commission Report Underscores Need for Mental Health Parity (both from US Newswire). Links to additional follow-up stories will be posted as they appear.