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One in every five Americans experiences a mental disorder in any given year, and half of all Americans have such disorders at some time in their lives. Worse, most of them never seek treatment. Many people with mental disorders do not realize that effective treatments exist, or they fear discrimination because of the stigma attached to mental illness. In addition, many people can't afford treatment because they lack insurance that would cover it. These were some of the findings of a comprehensive report issued by the U.S. Surgeon General, David Satcher, in December 1999. All too often, mental health professionals have to deliver such bad news. The news itself may be bad but it's often made worse as it is conveyed ineffectively by the media to the public. Thirty-five state mental health commissioners attended a training workshop, led by HHD's communications director, Diane Barry, to help them sharpen their messages and hone their media skills. The training, sponsored by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, took place in Washington, D.C. on December 12, 1999 on the eve of the U.S. Surgeon General's press conference. Ms. Barry, who formerly worked as communications director of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and with a national mental health program funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, brought knowledge of mental health issues and expertise developing effective messages and working with the media.
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