Mental Health America's Centennial Conference To Examine Challenges, Opportunities for the Future

Stephanopoulos, Kessler, Leading Thinkers Will Examine

Health Reform; Veterans' Health; Innovations; New Technologies

Contact: Steve Vetzner, (703) 797-2588 or svetzner@mentalhealthamerica.net

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (May 4, 2009)-Mental Health America, celebrating its 100^th Anniversary as the founder of the organized mental health movement, will address the challenges and opportunities for the future at its Centennial Conference, June 10-13 in Washington, D.C.

The Conference, "Celebrating the Legacy, Forging the Future," will bring together an extraordinary group of political analysts, policy experts, medical experts, researchers and advocates to examine key developments that will shape changes in the months and years ahead.

"The mental health care landscape is changing rapidly with health reform becoming a national priority and innovations in research and breakthroughs in prevention transforming the field," said David L. Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America. "As we celebrate the profound impact Mental Health America has had over the last century, we will look ahead at the challenges and opportunities we face in the future."

Highlights of the Conference include:                                       

• American's Opinions on Health Care-A panel of leading national pollsters and policy analysts will explore what was learned from this past Presidential election and current trends related to American's attitudes on health care and reform, and how the public's perspective shapes education, advocacy and policy work. Robert Boorstin, a key aide to former President Clinton and now an executive with Google, will moderate a panel that includes Joel Benenson, chief pollster for the Obama presidential campaign, and Bill McInturff, who served as one of the lead pollsters for the McCain campaign.

• Health Care Reform:Forging theFuture-A roundtable of political and health experts will discuss health reform efforts-where things stand, how to ensure mental health care services are integral to those plans, and how mental health parity will be implemented. Panelists include: White House health policy veteran Chris Jennings; Karen Ignani, CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans; and Ron Dozoretz, founder and CEO of Value Options and thers.

• KeynoteLuncheon: A Conversation with George Stephanopoulos-The host of "This Week" and chief Washington Correspondent for ABC News, George Stephanopoulos will step out of his moderator's chair and sit down for a can't miss interview to discuss opportunities and challenges facing the new administration, including prospects for health care reform.

• Innovations in Research and Treatment-Leading experts and policy makers examine advances in prevention and treatment and provide insights on the future direction these changes have for mental health. Panelists include: Dr. Ronald Kessler, the world's most cited mental health researcher; former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt, a founding member of the Council for American Medical Innovations; and Dr. Alan Leshner, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

• The Next Generation of Mental Health: Leadership and Technology-Young mental health leaders will discuss their own experiences and address how their generation and future generations view mental health, how they frame education, provide support and seek out help. The panel will also explore how technology and web 2.0 tools are shaping and changing the way we educate and inform. Speakers include: Ross Szabo, director of Youth Outreach for the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign; Lawrence Patrick III, president and CEO of Inspire USA; Dr. David Nickerson, director of Internet Strategy and Operations at the American Diabetes Association; and Bob Redpath, Director of Web Technology for Mental Health America, who will moderate.      

• Addressing the Mental Health Needs of America's Veterans-Military mental health leaders and veterans will explore the mental health issues of veterans, servicemen and women, their families, efforts in communities, and the plans and programs needed today and tomorrow. Mark Benjamin, an award-winning reporter with Salon.com, will moderate a panel that includes Brig. General Lorree K. Suttton, director of the Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury; and Matt Kuntz, executive director of NAMI Montana and recognized by President Obama as one of 18 Ordinary Americans Who Have Made an Extraordinary Difference; and others.

In addition, as part of the Centennial Conference, Mental Health America will mark its 100^th Anniversary with a celebratory Gala on the evening of Thursday, June 11. The special event, which will bring together national leaders and entertainers, will honor Senators Edward M. Kennedy and Pete Domenici for their legendary work on mental health and leadership in passing the Mental Health Parity law.

The Conference, which is being held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, will bring together advocates, mental health professionals, leaders from business and government, mental health consumers, policy makers, and executives and staff from over 300 Mental Health America state and local affiliates to learn about critical issues in the behavioral health field and map strategies for collective action.

For more information on the Centennial Conference, including agenda, speakers and registration, please visit http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/conference.

Celebrating 100 years of mental health education and advocacy, Mental Health America is the country's leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives. With our more than 300 affiliates nationwide, we represent a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation-every day and in times of crisis. In 2009, we are marking a century of achievement with a year-long Centennial Observance: "Celebrating the Legacy, Forging the Future."

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