FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2002
CONTACT: Shelly Burgess
Phone: 301-443-8956

WEB CHAT ON MENTAL HEALTH PARITY WITH SAMHSA ADMINISTRATOR

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/

Feel free to submit questions for consideration before the chat and remember
to log in next Thursday at 3 p.m. EST

Thank you,

Farra Trompeter
SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services
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