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Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health

The definitions and talking points have been pulled from the executive summary of the Surgeon General's Report.

  1. Definitions
  2. Talking Points
  3. Executive Summary
  4. News Articles on the Report

Definitions:
Mental health is a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity.

Mental illness is the term that refers collectively to all diagnosable mental disorders. Mental disorders are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior (or some combination thereof) associated with distress and/or impaired functioning. Alzheimer’s disease exemplifies a mental disorder largely marked by alterations in thinking (especially forgetting). Depression exemplifies a mental disorder largely marked by alterations in mood. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder exemplifies a mental disorder largely marked by alterations in behavior (overactivity) and/or thinking (inability to concentrate). (Surgeon General's Report Chapter 1, Section 1.)

From these definitions, we have a common ground for understanding the following issues that are in the report.

Talking Points

  • Mental disorders are real health conditions.
  • The efficacy of mental health treatments is well documented.
  • A range of treatments exists for most mental disorders.
  • There is no "one size fits all" treatment for mental disorders.
  • Mental disorders are disabling.
  • Mental health and mental illness are points on a continuum.
  • The mind and the body are inseparable.
  • The stigma against mental illness hinders people from seeking help.
  • Mental health and mental illness change over the lifespan.
  • One in five Americans experience a mental illness in any give year.
  • Many of these do not seek help because of stigma or barriers to care.
  • Mental health services are delivered through a complex system that does not always coordinate treatment well.
  • Parity legislation is one solution that may help people get needed care.
  • Managed care has helped some things and created other problems.

    The report suggests the following for the future course of mental health care:

  • Continue to build the science base.
  • Overcome the stigma.
  • Improve the public awareness of effective treatment.
  • Ensure the supply of mental health services and providers.
  • Ensure delivery of state of the art treatment.
  • Tailor treatment to age, gender, race, and culture.
  • Facilitate entry into treatment.
  • Reduce financial barriers to treatment

    ADDITIONAL LINKS

    1. The Surgeon General's Website for the Full Report

      Media Links

    2. HHS News Release (December 13, 1999 )
    3. ABC News ARTICLE: "Report: Shame Keeps Many From Treatment Surgeon General’s Exhaustive Report on Mental Illness"
    4. CNN News ARTICLE: "Surgeon general: Stigma, money keep people from mental care"
    5. CNN Transcript ARTICLE: "U.S. Surgeon General on Mental Health David Satcher interviewed by CNN"
    6. MSNBC News ARTICLE: "Report details mental health ‘crisis’"
    7. Editorials

      Streaming Audio and Videolinks

    8. MediaLink Worldwide
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    Updated June 2000