CONTACT: Meena Dayak, 301-602-8474, MeenaD@thenationalcouncil.org

Washington, DC (June 16, 2008)—The Senate Mental Health Caucus is holding a Congressional briefing on Wednesday, June 18 in the Dirksen Senate Office Building to examine the high incidence of premature death and disability among Americans with mental illnesses.

A recent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) study finds that people with serious mental illnesses die an average of 25 years sooner than other Americans.
The SAMHSA data appears to reveal the highest mortality rates for any sub-population in the U.S. public health system.

The briefing will discuss the scope of this public health emergency along with efforts by state agencies and community mental health providers to address this emerging crisis. A panel of leading mental health experts will examine morbidity and mortality data from state mental health systems and offer models of collaboration between health and mental health service providers.

WHO: Senate Mental Health Caucus

Panelists:
• Linda Rosenberg, President & CEO, National Council for Community   Behavioral Healthcare
• Joseph Parks, MD, Medical Director, Missouri Department of Mental Health
• Barbara Mauer, MSW, MCPP Consulting, Seattle, Washington
• Helen Royal, Colorado West Regional Community Mental Health, Frisco, CO
• Karen Wyatt, MD, Medical Director, Summit Community Care Clinic, Frisco, CO

WHAT: Congressional Briefing: Premature Death and Disability Among People With Mental Illness

WHEN/
WHERE: June 18, 4:00 pm, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 430

PRESS RSVP Meena Dayak, 301-602-8474, MeenaD@thenationalcouncil.org