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>>> GOOD MORNING.
MADAM SECRETARY, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN.
MY NAME IS JAMES LYONS AND I AM
THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.
I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO OUR
CAMPUS.
I DO NOT CLAIM TO BE AN EXPERT
YET ON THE UNIVERSITY OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BECAUSE WE
AGREED JUST A MOMENT AGO THAT I
WOULD TELL YOU THAT I'VE BEEN
HERE ALMOST SIX WEEKS.
BUT I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
THE CAMPUS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE.
AND ON BEHALF OF OUR FACULTY
STAFF, OUR STUDENTS AND FRIENDS,
WE WELCOME YOU.
WE'RE DELIGHTED TO BE HOSTING
THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
ON CAMPUS TODAY.
AS YOU COMMEMORATE THE EIGHTH
YEAR OF THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY, THE
NATIONAL CHILDREN'S MENTAL
HEALTH AWARENESS DAY.
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA HAS BEEN HERE A LONG
TIME.
AND SOME SAY WE’RE THE BEST-KEPT
SECRET IN WASHINGTON.
BUT WE DON'T WANT TO BE A SECRET
ANYMORE.
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE
OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF ACADEMIC
PROGRAMS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY
COLLEGE, THE UNIVERSITY, THE
GRADUATE SCHOOL, INTERNATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED LAW SCHOOL.
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE
SERVE STUDENTS WITH BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CHALLENGES, AND WE
WELCOME THEM TO OUR CAMPUS.
AND THEY COME TO OUR CAMPUS, AND
WE TELL THEM THAT THIS IS A
PLACE FOR YOU, AND WE DO PROVIDE
VERY IMPORTANT SUPPORT SERVICES
FOR THE STUDENTS.
SO WELCOME TO THE CAMPUS.
PLEASE COME BACK AND JOIN US.
IF THERE IS NOTHING HAPPENING
THAT SUITS YOUR NEEDS, WE WILL
PLAN SOMETHING FOR YOU JUST TO
GET YOU TO COME BACK TO THIS
BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS.
AND NOW IT'S MY PLEASURE TO
INTRODUCE THE ADMINISTRATOR OF
SAMHSA, PAMELA HYDE.
PAMELA HAS SERVED IN THIS ROLE
SINCE 2009,
SHE BRINGS 30 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE IN MANAGEMENT AND
CARE AND HUMAN SERVICES TO HER
CONSULTING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
JOB AT SAMHSA, WHERE SHE
PROMOTES THE AGENCY’S GOAL OF
REDUCING THE IMPACT OF SUBSTANCE
ABUSE AND MENTAL ILLNESS ON
AMERICA'S COMMUNITIES ON A DAILY
BASIS, BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT,
SHE WORKS HARD TO PLAN NATIONAL
OBSERVANCES SUCH AS THE ONE WE
ARE ENJOYING TODAY.
SO PLEASE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
WELCOME PAMELA HYDE.
[APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, DR. LYONS.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN YOUR
FACILITY, AND WE WELCOME YOU TO
IT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, WE
HOPE.
SO GOOD MORNING.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING
SAMHSA TODAY AS WE COMMEMORATE
NATIONAL CHILDREN'S MENTAL
HEALTH AWARENESS DAY.
THIS IS OUR ANNUAL CELEBRATION
TO PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF
CARING FOR EVERY CHILD'S MENTAL
HEALTH.
THIS EFFORT SEEKS TO RAISE
AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH AND
DEMONSTRATE THAT POSITIVE MENTAL
HEALTH IS ESSENTIAL TO
CHILDREN’S -- IN THE
COMMUNITIES, AROUND THE COUNTRY
IN MORE THAN 135 NATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATE BY
HOLDING THEIR OWN AWARENESS DAY
EVENTS, FOCUSING EITHER ON A
NATIONAL THEME OR ADOPTING THE
THEME TO THE POPULATIONS THEY
SERVE.
THIS YEAR, SAMHSA IS ALSO
PREMIERING A VIRTUAL NATIONAL
EVENT TO LAUNCH, AND THE VIDEO
WILL DEBUT ABOUT THIS THIS
WE’LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE
AFTERNOON.
MORE IN A BIT.
BUT THIS MORNING’S PRESS EVENT
AND ANNOUNCEMENTS, ALONG WITH AN
FEATURES FEDERAL PROGRAM RESULTS
AWARD TO A VERY SPECIAL AND
SUCCESSFUL YOUNG PERSON WITH AN
IMPORTANT STORY TO TELL ALL OF
US.
BUT FIRST, LET ME TALK JUST A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF
SAMHSA’S PROGRAMS.
AT SAMHSA, WE TAKE PRIDE IN THE
WORK THAT WE DO AND WE ALSO SHOW
AND THAT’S WHY EACH YEAR AS PART
RESULTS.
OF AWARENESS DAY, WE RELEASE
WHAT WE CALL A SHORT REPORT.
AND THIS REPORT PROVIDES
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW OUR
PROGRAMS IMPROVE THE LIVES OF
YOUNG PEOPLE WITH BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH NEEDS IN SEVERAL AREAS.
SO TODAY, WE RELEASED OUR 2013
EDITION TITLED “PROMOTING
RECOVERY AND INDEPENDENCE OF
OLDER ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG
ADULTS WHO EXPERIENCE SERIOUS
MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.”
THAT’S A LONG NAME, BUT THE
INFORMATION OFFERS PERSPECTIVE
ON THE CHALLENGES WE FACE ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
CHALLENGES SUCH AS THE FACT THAT
NEARLY 20 PERCENT OF YOUNG ADULTS AGED
18 TO 25 LIVING IN THE U.S. HAD
A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION IN THE
PAST YEAR.
OF THESE YOUNG ADULTS, MORE THAN
1.3 MILLION HAD A DISORDER SO
SERIOUS THAT THEIR ABILITY TO
FUNCTION WAS COMPROMISED.
MORE THAN A THIRD OF THOSE 1.3
MILLION YOUNG ADULTS ALSO HAVE A
SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER.
COMPARED WITH THEIR PEERS, THESE
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO
HAVE AN INCIDENT OF
HOMELESSNESS, THEY ARE MORE
LIKELY TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE
WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE
SYSTEM, DROP OUT OF SCHOOL, AND
BE UNEMPLOYED.
SO SAMHSA’S DATA ALSO POINTS TO
SOME GOOD NEWS, TELLING US THAT
SAMHSA’S PROGRAMS ARE WORKING.
OLDER ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG
ADULTS TAKING PART IN SAMHSA
COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES HAVE
ACHIEVED IMPROVED BEHAVIORAL AND
THEY ARE DEMONSTRATING THAT THEY
EMOTIONAL HEALTH.
CAN FUNCTION AND THRIVE.
THEY ARE DEMONSTRATING THAT
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE CONNECTING
SOCIALLY.
AND THE SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS
THEY ARE EXPERIENCING IS
TRANSLATING INTO SUCCESS AS AN
ADULT, INCLUDING INCREASED RATES
OF EMPLOYMENT AND ENROLLMENT IN
SCHOOL, IMPROVED HOUSING
STABILITY, IMPROVED DAILY LIFE
SKILLS, AND FEWER SUBSTANCE
ABUSE ISSUES.
THESE POSITIVE RESULTS IMPROVE
EVEN MORE WHEN YOUTH ARE PAIRED
WITH A SUPPORTIVE ADULT, WHICH
IS WHY WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING THIS
YEAR THE IMPORTANCE OF
MENTORING.
ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT HAS
ENJOYED CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS IS
SAMHSA’S COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR
CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES
TWENTY-EIGHT PERCENT OF OLDER ADOLESCENTS AND
PROGRAM.
YOUNG ADULTS WHO HAVE
SHOWED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT
PARTICIPATED IN THAT PROGRAM
IN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND
EMOTIONAL HEALTH WITHIN JUST THE
FIRST SIX MONTHS OF SERVICES,
AND 38 PERCENT SHOWED SIGNIFICANT
IMPROVEMENT WITHIN THE FIRST
YEAR.
MANY OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE
REPORTED THAT THEY HAVE GREATER
CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITIES TO
PERFORM IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS.
AND HOMELESSNESS DROPPED BY 36 PERCENT
AFTER JUST SIX MONTHS OF
SERVICES AMONG THOSE 18 AND
OLDER.
IMPORTANT GAINS ARE ALSO BEING
MADE FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE
ACROSS IMPORTANT AREAS OF
FUNCTIONING AS AN ADULT.
AMONG PARTICIPANTS IN ANOTHER OF
SAMHSA’S PROGRAMS CALLED THE
EMERGING ADULTS INITIATIVE, THE
NUMBER OF YOUNG ADULTS REPORTING
THAT THEY HAD A STABLE PLACE TO
LIVE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY
INCREASED BY 30 PERCENT.
AND THE NUMBERS STATING THAT
THEY HAD POSITIVE FUNCTIONING IN
EVERYDAY LIFE INCREASED BY 37 PERCENT.
YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS HAVE ALSO
IMPROVED BECAUSE OF SAMHSA’S
SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM.
DATA FROM THESE PROGRAMS SHOWED
AN IMPRESSIVE 80 PERCENT INCREASE IN
THE NUMBER OF YOUNG ADULTS WHO
ARE LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY, AS
WELL AS A 34 PERCENT DECREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO
REPORTED EXPERIENCING A
CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH
CONCERN, SUCH AS DEPRESSION AND
ANXIETY, AND THAT JUST AFTER A
FEW MONTHS OF TREATMENT.
AS A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE, AFTER SIX
MONTHS IN SAMHSA’S PREGNANT AND
POST-PARTUM WOMEN PROGRAM, 86 PERCENT
OF THE PARTICIPATING YOUNG
ADULTS REPORTED NO SUBSTANCE
ABUSE AND 29 PERCENT REPORTED BEING
EMPLOYED OR IN SCHOOL, AGAIN,
AFTER JUST A FEW MONTHS.
SO THAT’S A LOT OF NUMBERS.
BUT THAT’S IMPORTANT BECAUSE
THEY’RE THE RESULTS OF THE WORK
WE DO EVERY DAY.
AND BECAUSE THEY MAKE IT CLEAR
THAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS AN
ESSENTIAL PART OF HEALTH THAT
PREVENTION WORKS, AND THAT
TREATMENT IS EFFECTIVE AND THAT
PEOPLE DO RECOVER FROM THE
CHALLENGES THEY FACE.
NOW I WANT TO INTRODUCE A VERY
IMPORTANT YOUNG PERSON WHO IS
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF YOUTH
M.O.V.E. NATIONAL.
SHE DOES WORK ON RESULTS LIKE
THIS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, SO
PLEASE WELCOME LACY KENDRICK
BURK.
[APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU, ADMINISTRATOR HYDE,
FOR THAT INTRODUCTION.
I AM SO HONORED TO BE HERE
TODAY, REPRESENTING YOUTH M.O.V.E.
NATIONAL —
THAT’S YOUTH MOTIVATING OTHERS
THROUGH VOICES OF EXPERIENCE.
AT YOUTH M.O.V.E., WE KNOW THAT
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SOME OF OUR
MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES, AND WE
WORK EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR VOICES ARE STRONG BECAUSE
WE’RE UNITED.
WE’RE A NATIONAL YOUTH-LED
ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO
UNITE THE VOICES AND CAUSES OF
YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE DATA THAT ADMINISTRATOR HYDE
MENTIONED TODAY STARTS TO PAINT
A PICTURE OF A SYSTEM THAT YOUNG
PEOPLE OFTEN COME FROM, BUT THAT
PICTURE IS NOT COMPLETE.
IT’S NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT
UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
TO BE 18 YEARS OLD, SCARED AND
FEELING COMPLETELY ALONE, LIVING
WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
WHILE TRYING TO SURVIVE, GET A
JOB, AND HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.
IT’S NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT
APPRECIATING THE SMALL VICTORIES
THAT YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCE
EVERY DAY.
CHOOSING TO EXERCISE INSTEAD OF
DRINKING TO DEAL WITH
DEPRESSION.
ACTUALLY GETTING OUT OF BED TO
GO TO SCHOOL.
PICKING UP THE PHONE OR TEXTING
TO ASK FOR HELP.
I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I AM ONE OF
THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE.
I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE CHILD
WELFARE AND THE MENTAL HEALTH
SYSTEM AND I STILL CONTINUE TO
RECEIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
TODAY.
AT THE AGE OF 15, I WAS PLACED
INTO FOSTER CARE WITH FIVE OF MY
YOUNGER SIBLINGS.
I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE A GREAT
PLACEMENT.
AND FOR A LONG TIME, IT APPEARED
THAT I WAS A SUCCESS STORY OF A
POSITIVE TRANSITION.
BUT I WAS ONE THAT THE SYSTEM
ACTUALLY GOT RIGHT.
WHAT THE WORLD DIDN’T KNOW IS
THAT ON THE INSIDE, I WAS
REELING FROM THE EFFECTS OF
TRAUMA
AND UNDIAGNOSED MENTAL HEALTH
CHALLENGES INCLUDING PTSD.
IN COLLEGE, I WAS
SELF-MEDICATING EVERY DAY BY
DRINKING.
YET I CONTINUED TO CONVINCE
PEOPLE THAT I WAS FINE.
I WAS INDEPENDENT.
AND I COULD FIGURE ALL OF THIS
OUT ON MY OWN.
NOBODY KNEW THAT I HAD LOST A
FULL-RIDE SCHOLARSHIP BECAUSE I
COULDN'T GET OUT OF BED FOR
NOBODY KNEW THAT I WAS WORKING
CLASS.
UP TO SIX JOBS AS A RESULT TO
PAY FOR EVERYTHING, INCLUDING
SOME OF THE FINANCIAL AID I HAD
LOST.
AND NOBODY KNEW THAT AS I
TRANSITIONED FURTHER INTO
ADULTHOOD, ISOLATION AND
DEPRESSION OFTEN KEPT ME LOCKED
INTO THINKING THAT THINGS WOULD
JUST BE SO MUCH EASIER IF I
WASN’T EVEN HERE ANYMORE.
AND NONE OF THIS MADE SENSE TO
ME.
I HAD FRIENDS, I HAD A GREAT
FAMILY, I HAD AN AMAZING JOB
GETTING TO TRAVEL AROUND THE
COUNTRY AND HELP YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND SO I COULDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY
I FELT THAT WAY.
I WASN’T VERY OPEN WITH MY
FOSTER PARENTS OR WITH ANYONE AT
THAT TIME IN MY LIFE.
I KEPT MY MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
AND MY ALCOHOL ABUSE HIDDEN.
I DIDN’T EVEN WANT TO ADMIT IT
TO MYSELF.
BUT ONE MEMORY STANDS OUT AS A
TURNING POINT.
I WAS IN A BOOKSTORE.
I HAD GONE TO FIND THE BOOKS
THAT MY COUNSELOR HAD
RECOMMENDED THAT I KNEW WOULD
HELP ME WITH THE ISSUES THAT I
WAS DEALING WITH.
I WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF
SOMETHING THAT I KNEW I NEEDED
AND I KNEW COULD HELP, BUT EVEN
THE ACT OF PICKING IT UP, TAKING IT
TO THE CASH REGISTER AND PAYING
FOR IT WAS SO COMPLETELY
OVERWHELMING, I WAS FROZEN.
I WENT TO THE BATHROOM AND I
CALLED MY MOM CRYING.
AND I COULDN’T EVEN TELL HER
WHAT WAS WRONG.
BUT SHE DROPPED EVERYTHING, SHE
CAME TO BARNES & NOBLE TO HELP
ME PICK OUT THE BOOK, SHE PICKED
IT UP FROM THE SHELF, CARRIED IT
TO THE CASHIER, AND HELPED ME
BUY IT.
THAT MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE A VERY
BIG DEAL TO VERY MANY PEOPLE,
BUT THAT SIMPLE ACT HELPED ME TO
KNOW THAT I COULD BE OPEN WITH
SOMEBODY, AND THAT WHEN I WAS,
THAT SHE WOULD BE THERE.
AND THAT MAYBE I REALLY COULD
TRUST AND OPEN UP TO OTHERS AND
THAT MAYBE I DIDN’T HAVE TO
STRUGGLE THROUGH ALL OF THIS
ALONE.
THESE FOSTER PARENTS AND THE
SUPPORT OF CONNECTIONS, THEY
EVENTUALLY BECAME MY ADOPTIVE
PARENTS.
MY RECOVERY CONSISTS OF A LOT OF
SMALL STEPS AND A LOT OF SMALL
VICTORIES ALONG THE WAY.
I BEGAN TO LEARN WHAT GENUINE
CONNECTIONS WERE WITH PEERS AND
AND THESE CONNECTIONS SAVED MY
ADULTS.
LIFE.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE I CAN CALL
AT 1:30 IN THE MORNING, AND WHEN
I'M FEELING REALLY DEPRESSED AND
I DON’T WANT TO BE HERE ANYMORE
AND THINGS ARE JUST SO
OVERWHELMING, AND THEY’RE THERE
TO ANSWER THE PHONE AND THEY’RE
THERE TO PICK UP AND THEY’RE
THERE TO LISTEN AND TO SAY, YOU
KNOW WHAT?
THE MOST POWERFUL WORDS THAT A
PERSON STRUGGLING CAN HEAR — I
UNDERSTAND, I’VE BEEN THERE,
TOO.
FOR ME, AND FOR OTHER YOUNG
AND YOU GUYS LISTENING OUT
PEOPLE,
THERE, AND EVERYBODY IN THIS
ROOM, YOU CAN BE THAT DIFFERENCE
FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
WHETHER YOU’RE 15 OR 52,
SOMETIMES ALL IT REALLY TAKES IS
“HOW ARE YOU REALLY DOING TODAY?”
IT CAN AND IT DOES HAPPEN IF
WE’RE OPEN TO TALKING ABOUT IT.
THESE STRUGGLES ARE SURVIVABLE.
AND CONNECTING WITH OTHERS,
THESE HEROES OF HOPE, IS HOW WE
GET THROUGH THEM.
AND THAT’S WHAT NATIONAL
CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH
AWARENESS DAY IS ALL ABOUT.
I SHARED MY STORY TODAY WITH YOU
AS ONLY ONE OF MANY.
MANY YOUTHS THAT ARE OUT THERE
IN YOUR COMMUNITIES THAT YOU SEE
A LOT OF THEM WILL BE FEATURED
EVERY DAY —
ON THE VIRTUAL EVENT TODAY THAT
ADMINISTRATOR HYDE MENTIONED
EARLIER.
I’D LIKE TO THANK SAMHSA AND HHS
FOR BEING AMONG THOSE WHO
BELIEVE IN AND COMMIT TO THE
POTENTIAL OF ALL OF OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU OUT
THERE LISTENING WHO DEVOTE YOUR
EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE A POSITIVE
BEFORE I CLOSE, I’D LIKE TO
SHARE A COUPLE OF STANZAS FROM A
FUTURE.
POEM THAT I WROTE.
THIS IS FROM THE COLLECTIVE
PERSPECTIVE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
FOR TRANSITIONING OUT OF CARE
AND OUT OF THE SYSTEM.
WHEN YOU SEE THE NUMBERS, THE
STATS THAT SHOW WHERE WE’VE ALL
BEEN, BUT NOT WHERE WE WILL GO,
WHEN YOU SEE ME, DO YOU THINK I
COULD BE MORE THAN WHAT PAPER
DO YOU THINK I COULD GET WHERE I
SHOWS?
WANT TO GO?
OR IS THE PICTURE UP NOW THE
ONLY THING THAT YOU SEE?
OR DO YOU SEE A SMALL SKETCH OF
THE MASTERPIECE I’LL BE?
DO YOU SEE ME AS POTENTIAL, ONE
WHO WILL GO BEYOND THIS ISOLATED
DESOLATE TRANSITION THAT WE’RE
ON?
FOR I AM ALREADY BEYOND, DON’T
YOU SEE?
THOSE STATS, THOSE PAGES CAN’T
DEFINE ALL OF ME.
SEE ME NOT ONLY FOR WHAT I AM,
BUT FOR WHERE I CAN BE.
AND HELP ME SEE BEYOND THE
SKETCH, TO MAKE MY MASTERPIECE
COMPLETE.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A
YOUNG ADULT WHO HAS HAD A LOT OF
STRUGGLES, BUT ALSO AS A SISTER.
I AM ONE TEST AWAY FROM MY
SECOND MASTER’S DEGREE.
I HAVE BEEN A FOUNDER AND A CEO
OF A CONSULTING COMPANY, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TWO
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND
SERVED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF AN INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATION.
ALL BEFORE THE AGE OF 30,
BUT I CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU THAT
IF IT WASN’T FOR MY FRIENDS AND
MY FAMILY AND MY CONNECTIONS, MY
PEERS THAT HAVE ALSO SUFFERED
THROUGH THE SAME THINGS, I WOULD
NOT BE STANDING HERE TODAY.
I OWE EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE
GOTTEN AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT
I DO TO THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED
IN ME WHEN I COULDN’T BELIEVE IN
AND YOU CAN BE THAT FOR
MYSELF.
SOMEBODY.
MAYBE IT’S TO CARRY A BOOK FOR
SOMEONE, ASK “HOW ARE YOU?”
“GOOD.”
“NO, REALLY, HOW ARE YOU TODAY?”
OR JUST BEING THERE TO LISTEN,
AND MAYBE SAY “ME, TOO.”
BECAUSE YOU ARE WHAT MAKES A
DIFFERENCE.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE ]
>> FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME, AND MY
PART OF MY CAREER, I HAVE A SIGH
OF RELIEF WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE
LIKE LACY AND KNOWING THAT SHE’S
COMING UP IN OUR WORLD.
THANK YOU, LACY, SO MUCH.
WE KNOW THAT MENTAL AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS IN
CHILDREN ARE SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC
HEALTH CONCERNS WITH CONSIDERABLE
ASSOCIATED COST TO INDIVIDUALS,
FAMILIES, AND SOCIETY.
AND AS WE JUST HEARD, BY
BELIEVING IN THE YOUNG PERSON
AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE SERVICES
AND SUPPORT, WE CAN ENABLE YOUNG
PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THE PROMISE OF
THEIR TALENTS, CONNECT TO THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND REACH THEIR FULL
POTENTIAL AS ADULTS IN SOCIETY.
TO THIS END, WE ARE WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY ACROSS THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND AND PROMOTE THE
MENTAL HEALTH OF AMERICA’S YOUNG
PEOPLE.
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
AND PREVENTION, CDC, IS ONE OF
SAMHSA’S CRITICAL FEDERAL
PARTNERS, AND I’M VERY PLEASED
TODAY THAT THE PRINCIPAL DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF CDC HAS JOINED US
TODAY TO ANNOUNCE A NEW REPORT
THAT CATALOGS MANY FEDERAL DATA
AND SURVEILLANCE EFFORTS ABOUT
CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH.
WELCOME, ILEANA.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR
JOINING US.
PAM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WONDERFUL COLLABORATION ON THIS
VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
THANK YOU TO THE SECRETARY FOR
HAVE PROVIDED TO ALL OF US FOR
THE WONDERFUL SUPPORT THAT YOU
ENGAGING ON THIS ISSUE.
WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE
THE HOSPITALITY OF DR. LYONS AND
HIS COLLEAGUES.
AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK
OUR OTHER DISTINGUISHED
PANELISTS FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP
AND YOURS AS WELL IN ADDRESSING
THIS ISSUE.
MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN IS
CRITICAL TO THEIR OVERALL
HEALTH.
WITHOUT EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT OF MENTAL DISORDERS,
CHILDREN CAN HAVE PROBLEMS AT
HOME.
THEY CAN HAVE PROBLEMS IN
IN FORMING FRIENDSHIPS, WHICH
SCHOOL.
ALL KEEP THEM FROM DEVELOPING IN
A HEALTHY WAY AND LIVING TO
THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
BECAUSE OF THEIR IMPACT ON
CHILDREN, ON FAMILIES, AND ON
COMMUNITIES, CHILDREN’S MENTAL
DISORDERS ARE AN IMPORTANT
PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE IN THE
AS PAM MENTIONED, THIS MONTH,
UNITED STATES.
CDC IS PROVIDING A SPOTLIGHT ON
CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH.
ON MAY 16th AND 17th, WE WILL BE
RELEASING AND PROMOTING A NEW
REPORT FROM OUR MORBIDITY AND
MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT
SUPPLEMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS OUR
MMWR, ON THE SURVEILLANCE OF
MENTAL DISORDERS AMONG CHILDREN
IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE REPORT ESSENTIALLY DESCRIBES
THE CURRENT FEDERAL EFFORTS TO
MONITOR CHILDREN’S MENTAL
DISORDERS, THE PREVALENCE OF
THESE DISORDERS.
IT IDENTIFIES GAPS IN OUR
ABILITY TO FULLY MONITOR
CHILDREN’S MENTAL DISORDERS.
IT INFORMS THE PUBLIC HEALTH
APPROACH TO PREVENT MENTAL
DISORDERS AND TO PROMOTE MENTAL
HEALTH IN CHILDREN.
THE REPORT MONITORS THE NUMBER
OF KIDS IN THE U.S., AGES 3 TO
17, WHO HAVE SPECIFIC MENTAL
DISORDERS AND ALSO INDICATIONS
OF MENTAL DISTRESS
USING THE INFORMATION FROM DATA
COLLECTED FROM 2005 TO 2011.
AT CDC, OUR CONTRIBUTION TO
MENTAL HEALTH IS TO MONITOR
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, TO CLOSE
THE GAPS IN WHAT WE KNOW AND
WHAT CAN BE DONE, AND TO DRIVE
AWARENESS OF ADULT MENTAL
ILLNESS AND CHILDHOOD MENTAL
DISORDERS AS IMPORTANT PUBLIC
HEALTH PROBLEMS, AND THE
IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH
PROMOTION AND MENTAL ILLNESS
PREVENTION AS WELL.
EFFECTIVE DISEASE PREVENTION
PROGRAMS AND POLICIES SPECIFIC
TO CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH AND
CHILD MENTAL DISORDERS WILL HELP
CHILDREN TO GROW UP HEALTHY AND
REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN
SCHOOL, FAMILY, AND PEER
RELATIONSHIPS, AND AS
CONTRIBUTING ADULTS IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
WE SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE
CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH.
WE SEEK TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH
AND LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF
CHILDREN WITH ADHD BY MONITORING
THE PREVALENCE OF THE PROBLEM IN
THE U.S., BY RESEARCHING RISK
BEHAVIORS AND THE IMPACT OF ADHD
AND SUPPORTING A NATIONAL
RESOURCE CENTER THAT PROVIDES
INFORMATION TO PEOPLE WITH ADHD
AND THEIR FAMILIES.
WE’VE ALSO DEVELOPED EARLY
PREVENTION PROGRAMS SUCH AS
LEGACY FOR CHILDREN, WHICH IS
THE PRIMARY PREVENTION APPROACH
TO IMPROVING THE CHILD HEALTH
OUTCOMES, THROUGH PROMOTION OF
POSITIVE PARENTING WITH MOTHERS
AND THEIR INFANTS, ESPECIALLY
FOCUSING ON CHILDREN GROWING UP
IN POVERTY.
THE PROGRAM ALSO INFORMS PARENTS
OF DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES IN
THEIR CHILDREN’S LIVES THAT THEY
CAN DETECT VERY EARLY ON, SIGNS
OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND
SPECIFICALLY AUTISM.
FORTUNATELY, AS A RESULT OF
THESE EFFORTS, WE HAVE SEEN A
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE
ABILITY TO DETECT AUTISM EARLIER
IN CHILDREN, WHICH MEANS THAT
CHILDREN HAVE SERVICES AVAILABLE
TO THEM EARLIER AND THEREFORE WE
CAN ENSURE POSITIVE OUTCOMES
MORE SO THAN WE EVER HAVE
PREVENTION OF SUICIDE IS ANOTHER
BEFORE.
CRITICAL HEALTH PRIORITY.
WE’RE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, AGENCIES AND
INSTITUTIONS TO HELP IMPLEMENT
AND EVALUATE EFFECTIVE
STRATEGIES AND PREVENT WELLNESS
AND SUICIDE AND RELATED
BEHAVIORS.
IN THE LONG TERM, WE ARE
SUPPORTING THE INTEGRATION OF
MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION, MENTAL
ILLNESS PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
WITH DISEASE PREVENTION
PROGRAMS.
MENTAL HEALTH IS CRITICAL TO
OVERALL HEALTH.
THE MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN IS
CRITICAL.
AND NOT ONLY DURING CHILDHOOD,
BUT ALSO AS THEY GROW INTO
ADULTS.
WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN
ENSURING EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND
INTERVENTION.
CDC AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES
ARE WORKING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
THE SPECIFICS OF THESE DISORDERS
AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES SO
THE KIDS CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES DURING
CHILDHOOD AND AS ADULTS.
BUT WE CAN’T DO IT ALONE, AND
THAT’S WHY WE’RE HERE TODAY.
WE NEED PARTNERS TO HELP US
BUILD THE EVIDENCE BASE TO
UNDERSTAND AND PROMOTE
CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH.
CDC’S REPORT SPOTLIGHTING
CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH IS AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THIS EFFORT,
BUT MORE SURVEILLANCE AND MORE
RESEARCH IS NEEDED.
WE NEED PARENTS TO ASK YOUR
CHILD’S PEDIATRICIAN OR DOCTOR
IF YOUR CHILD BEHAVES IN A
MANNER THAT CAUSES PROBLEMS AT
HOME, IN SCHOOL, INFORMING PEER
QUESTIONS EARLY.
RELATIONSHIPS AND ASK THOSE
WE NEED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO
DIAGNOSE AND PROPERLY TREAT
CHILDREN WITH MENTAL DISORDERS,
ACCORDING TO ESTABLISHED
GUIDELINES WHEN THEY EXIST.
THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO
WORK WITH FAMILIES, TO HELP
FAMILIES AND PROFESSIONALS TO
HELP IDENTIFY EARLY A CHILD WHO
MAY HAVE A MENTAL DISORDER.
IF WE ALL ACT AND IF WE ALL WORK
NOW, WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
NOW FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES, AND ALSO FOR THEIR
FUTURES.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
ATTENDANCE TODAY AND FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP AS WE ADDRESS THIS
CRITICAL ISSUE FOR OUR COUNTRY’S
[APPLAUSE ]
CHILDREN.
>> THANK YOU, ILEANA, AND THANK
YOU FOR THE CDC’S PARTNERSHIP.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK
THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE
IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO BE
STAGE.
ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH
WE KNOW THAT AND WE’RE TRYING TO
ISSUES.
MAKE IT OK, BECAUSE MENTAL
HEALTH IS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER
HEALTH CONDITION, AND IT NEEDS
TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO BE HERE AND YOUR
PARTICIPATION IN TODAY’S EVENT.
I’M ALSO HAPPY TO — YES, LET’S
THANK THEM.
[APPLAUSE ]
TODAY I’M HAPPY TO HAVE SAMHSA
JOIN ANOTHER FEDERAL PARTNER,
THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND
MEDICAID SERVICES, IN RELEASING A
GROUNDBREAKING STATE
INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN.
CMS HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL IN THIS
NATIONAL EFFORT TO RAISE
AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF MENTAL HEALTH FOR OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE, YOUNG ADULTS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
SO THIS INFORMATION BULLETIN
DESCRIBES SOME EFFECTIVE BENEFIT
DESIGNS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH,
WITH SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITIONS AND ENCOURAGES
MEDICAID DIRECTORS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY TO PROVIDE SERVICES SUCH
AS SUPPORT, PROVIDERS, AND
INTENSIVE WRAPAROUND CARE
COORDINATION.
TO TALK ABOUT THE DETAILS AND
IMPACT OF THIS AND OTHER CMS
EFFORTS, I’M PLEASED TO WELCOME
THE DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR OF THE
CENTER FOR MEDICAID AND CHIP
SERVICES, CINDY MANN.
[APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING US.
PAM, THANK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP, AND OF COURSE, THE
LEADERSHIP OF SECRETARY SEBELIUS
IN MOVING US FORWARD IN EFFORTS
TO DEVELOP REALLY EFFECTIVE
POLICIES AND SERVICES FOR
CHILDREN.
CMF TAKES ITS RESPONSIBILITY AND
ITS INVESTMENTS IN STATE MENTAL
HEALTH AND ADDICTION SYSTEMS
VERY SERIOUSLY, AND TO GIVE YOU
A SENSE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF
THESE INVESTMENTS, LET ME GIVE
YOU A FEW MORE NUMBERS.
MEDICAID PROGRAMS PROVIDE
COVERAGE TO 27 MILLION CHILDREN
UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IN THE
UNITED STATES.
WE COVER ABOUT A THIRD OF ALL
CHILDREN AND A LITTLE BIT MORE
THAN A HALF OF ALL LOW-INCOME
CHILDREN IN THE NATION.
WE ARE THE LARGEST SINGLE PAYER
FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN
THE UNITED STATES, COMPRISING 27 PERCENT
OF ALL EXPENDITURES FOR MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES.
AS A RESULT, MEDICAID AND THE
CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM COVERAGE POLICIES HAVE
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE HEALTH
OF THIS POPULATION, AND THE
QUALITY AS WELL AS THE COST OF
SERVICES BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE
OF THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANT
ROLE THAT HEALTH SERVICES,
INCLUDING SERVICES TO DIAGNOSE,
TREAT, AND PREVENT MENTAL
ILLNESS, HAVE FOR CHILDREN AND
YOUTH, MEDICAID HAS THE
STRONGEST PACKAGE OF BENEFITS
FOR CHILDREN OF ANY INSURER, AND
WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS AND
WE’VE SEEN IN RESEARCH RECENTLY
RELEASED HOW IMPORTANT THAT CARE
IS THAT MEDICAID PROVIDES TO
OUR ENROLLEES.
WE ALSO KNOW AS A NATION WE CAN
AND MUST DO MORE WHEN IT COMES
TO DIAGNOSING MENTAL ILLNESSES
AMONG OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNG
PEOPLE AND PROVIDING COORDINATED
AND EFFECTIVE CARE.
ELEVEN PERCENT OF YOUTHS HAVE DIAGNOSED —
HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A
MENTAL ILLNESS, BUT WE KNOW THAT
TWO-THIRDS OF YOUTHS WHO HAVE THIS
CONDITION HAVE NOT BEEN
IDENTIFIED AND DO NOT RECEIVE
THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT
COULD HELP THEM.
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEHAVIOR
YOUTH DISORDERS UTILIZE A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF HEALTH
SERVICES, BUT OFTEN THE CARE IS
DELIVERED IN FRAGMENTED WAYS AND
TOO OFTEN
THE TREATMENT OF BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH DISORDERS IS
DISASSOCIATED FROM THE CARE THAT
THEY RECEIVE FOR THE PHYSICAL
HEALTH PROBLEMS.
A MAJORITY OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER
CARE RECEIVE MULTIPLE
MEDICATIONS, OFTEN PRESENT
COMPLEX SYSTEMS AND CO-MORBID
CONDITIONS. THERE’S EVIDENCE
THAT THESE MULTIPLE
PRESCRIPTIONS AND MULTIPLE
MEDICATIONS ARE EFFECTIVE IN
THEIR TREATMENT.
SO WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE
DELIVERY OF CARE AND THE
ALMOST 8 PERCENT OF YOUTHS AGES 12 TO
FRAGMENTATION OF CARE.
17 IN THE MEDICAID AND CHIP
PROGRAM HAVE HAD A MAJOR
DEPRESSIVE DISORDER IN 2009,
THE NUMBER IS SIGNIFICANTLY
HIGHER FOR YOUTHS IN CHILD
WELFARE PROGRAMS.
SUICIDE WAS ONE OF THE TOP TEN
CAUSES OF DEATH OF STUDENTS IN
THE UNITED STATES IN 2009, AND
THE PRESENCE OF MAJOR
DEPRESSION, BIPOLAR DISORDER,
ALCOHOL, AND DRUG ABUSE ARE
FREQUENT RISK FACTORS FOR
SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR.
MEDICAID PROGRAMS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY HAVE THE TOOLS TO
PROVIDE THE CARE THAT’S NEEDED,
AND CMS, ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS
AT SAMHSA, ARE WORKING WITH
STATES TO DESIGN AND SUPPORT THE
SERVICE SYSTEMS NEEDED TO BE
ABLE TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES,
ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH,
AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE
SIGNIFICANT MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITIONS.
AS PART OF THAT BROADER EFFORT,
TODAY CMS AND SAMHSA ARE
RELEASING A BULLETIN THAT
PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION
FOR STATES TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES
TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THESE
CHILDREN.
THIS INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN IS
BASED ON YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
BETWEEN THE TWO AGENCIES AND
ALSO IMPLEMENTING TWO IMPORTANT
PROJECTS, CMS' PSYCHIATRIC
RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT
FACILITIES DEMONSTRATION AND
CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH
INITIATIVE.
THESE TWO PROJECTS HAVE PROVEN
OUTCOMES.
THE PRTF INITIATIVE PROVIDED
SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE THAT
TREATMENTS FOR CHILDREN AT RISK
FOR INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND
CHILDREN WHO COULD MOVE FROM AN
INSTITUTIONAL SETTING TO
COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS DID
MUCH BETTER.
THE EVALUATION SHOWED, FOR
EXAMPLE, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND
PERFORMANCE IMPROVED.
CHILDREN’S ABILITY TO PERFORM
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND
POSITIVE CONNECTIONS TO FAMILY
MEMBERS IMPROVED.
THEIR LIVING SITUATIONS BECAME
MORE STABLE.
THEIR CAREGIVERS WERE ABLE TO
MAINTAIN REGULAR ATTENDANCE AT
WORK.
AND WE SAW REDUCED SUICIDE
ATTEMPTS AS WELL AS DECREASED
CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND SIGNIFICANTLY, WE ALSO FOUND
THAT THROUGH THESE
INTERVENTIONS, THESE MEDICAID
INITIATIVES REDUCED THE OVERALL
COST OF CARE.
THE HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED
SERVICES PROVIDED TO CHILDREN
AND YOUTH IN THE PRTF
DEMONSTRATION COST 25 PERCENT OF WHAT
IT WOULD HAVE COST TO SERVE
CHILDREN IN THE PRTF
INSTITUTIONS.
AN AVERAGE SAVINGS OF $40,000
PER YEAR PER CHILD.
THE BULLETIN REPORTS ON THESE
FINDINGS AND ALSO PROVIDES
STATES WITH AN ARRAY OF
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ABOUT
DIFFERENT STRATEGIES THAT CAN BE
ADOPTED IN THE MEDICAID PROGRAM
TO ENHANCE STATE MEDICAID
PROGRAMS AND THE SYSTEMS OF CARE
THAT THEY DELIVER.
WITH THESE TOOLS AND RESOURCES
TO RELY ON, WE’LL BE WORKING
CLOSELY WITH STATES TO BUILD
THOSE SYSTEMS AND MAKE SURE THAT
THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY
NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
THERE’S MUCH THAT WE CAN DO AND
THERE’S A GREAT AMOUNT OF
OPPORTUNITY THAT PRESENTS
FEW INITIATIVES IN OUR VIEW
OURSELVES.
COULD BE MORE COMPELLING OR MORE
VALUABLE TO THE CHILDREN AND
YOUTH OF OUR NATION.
SO LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT WITH
YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND WITH THE
PARTNERSHIP OF SAMHSA, CDC, AND
REALLY THE YOUTH LEADERS AROUND
THE COUNTRY, THAT WE ARE
COMMITTED TO IMPROVEMENTS IN
POLICY, DELIVER SYSTEMS THAT
SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITIONS.
OUR CHILDREN DEPEND ON US, AND
WE CANNOT LET THEM DOWN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[APPLAUSE ]
SO GREAT TO HAVE THESE FEDERAL
>> THANK YOU.
PARTNERS AND ITS ALSO GREAT TO
UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF
INVESTMENT IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH,
BOTH FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG
PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES, BUT
ALSO FOR THE HEALTH CARE
DELIVERY SYSTEM.
SO THANK YOU, CINDY.
NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE, IT’S
ALWAYS A PLEASURE, TO INTRODUCE
THE NEXT PERSON THAT I GET TO
TELL YOU ABOUT, BECAUSE I’VE
BEEN IN THIS FIELD FOR A NUMBER
OF YEARS.
IN FACT, A LOT OF DECADES AT
THIS POINT.
AND TO HAVE A SECRETARY OF THE
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT BE AS COMMITTED AND
CONCERNED ABOUT BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH AS THE SECRETARY IS
TRULY PHENOMENAL.
SO I WANT TO HAVE YOU WELCOME
SOMEONE WHO HAS EMBRACED THE
MESSAGE IN UNDERSTANDING THAT
TO HEALTH AND WHO IS MY BOSS AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS ESSENTIAL
COLLEAGUE, SECRETARY KATHLEEN
SEBELIUS.
[APPLAUSE ]
>> WELL, GOOD MORNING
EVERYBODY.
I WANT TO START BY THANKING DR.
LYONS FOR WELCOMING US HERE
TODAY IN YOUR EARLY TENURE HERE
AT THE COLLEGE.
I WANT TO REALLY THANK LACY
I THINK THAT NOT ONLY IS HER
KENDRICK BURK.
STORY IMPRESSIVE AND HER
LEADERSHIP OF MOVE INCREDIBLE, BUT
LENDING HER VOICE TO THIS
IMPORTANT MESSAGE IS -- COULD
NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED.
IT’S TERRIFIC.
SO THANK YOU, LACY, VERY MUCH
FOR STANDING UP AND SPEAKING
OUT.
[APPLAUSE ]
YOU’VE MET ILEANA AND CINDY
JUST TWO OF THE AGENCIES ACROSS
MANN.
HHS WHO ARE REALLY INTERESTED
AND COMMITTED TO COLLABORATING
ON THESE CRITICAL ISSUES AROUND
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
CERTAINLY THE WONDERFUL PAM
HYDE, WHO LEADS THIS EFFORT
ABOUT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
THERE COULDN’T BE A BETTER TIME
FOR PAM HYDE TO BE AT SAMHSA
THAN NOW.
AND I WANT TO THANK HER FOR HER
LEADERSHIP.
YOU KNOW, WE SAY THIS OFTEN, BUT
I THINK IT BEARS REPEATING THAT
WE HAVE NO HIGHER OBLIGATION AS
A SOCIETY, AS OUR PRESIDENT
REMINDS US, THAN KEEPING OUR
CHILDREN SAFE AND PROTECTING
THEIR HEALTH.
IT’S OUR MOST FUNDAMENTAL TASK.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES, WE CONTINUE TO
FALL SHORT.
THREE-QUARTERS OF ADULT MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE EVIDENT BY
THE AGE OF 24,
BUT TOO MANY ADULTS CONTINUE TO
FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF
MENTAL ILLNESS IN YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND TOO MANY KIDS ARE IN
SITUATIONS WHERE THEY DON’T FEEL
SAFE ENOUGH TO ASK FOR THEIR OWN
HELP.
WHEN CHILDREN RECEIVE CARE, THEY
OFTEN END UP AGING OUT OF
SERVICES, LEAVING THEM
VULNERABLE DURING THE FORMATIVE
YEARS OF EARLY ADULTHOOD.
WE CAN DO BETTER.
WE NEED TO DO BETTER AND WE MUST
DO BETTER.
EARLY DETECTION AND TREATMENT
CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
WHEN CHILDREN GET THE CARE THEY
NEED, SYMPTOMS SUBSIDE,
DISABILITY IS AVOIDED, AND
CHILDREN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPLORE THEIR TALENTS, TO
CONNECT TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND
GROW INTO SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
NOW, THE POLICY CHANGES THAT CAN
HELP, THANKS TO TWO HISTORIC
LAWS WHICH WE’RE IN THE PROCESS
OF IMPLEMENTING, THE MENTAL
HEALTH PARITY AND AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT, WE’RE EXPANDING AND
SECURING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
BENEFITS FOR 62 MILLION MORE
AMERICANS.
62 MILLION AMERICANS WILL HAVE
COVERAGE STARTING IN 2014 THAT
THEY DON’T HAVE TODAY.
AND THAT’S A HUGE STEP FORWARD.
WE’RE ALREADY SEEING TREMENDOUS
PROGRESS.
BECAUSE OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT, 17 MILLION CHILDREN CAN NO
LONGER BE DENIED INSURANCE
BECAUSE OF A PREEXISTING
CONDITION LIKE DEPRESSION OR
BIPOLAR DISORDER.
MORE THAN 6.6 MILLION YOUNG
ADULTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO ON
THEIR PARENTS’ INSURANCE PLANS
AT A CRITICAL AGE, WHEN WE KNOW
THAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES
ARE LIKELY TO EMERGE, OR TO
PROGRESS.
MORE THAN 71 MILLION AMERICANS,
INCLUDING OVER 18 MILLION
CHILDREN, NOW GET FREE
PREVENTATIVE SERVICES, INCLUDING
SCREENINGS FOR ALCOHOL ABUSE AND
DEPRESSION.
AND AS YOU HEARD CINDY MANN
MENTION EARLIER, OUR DEPARTMENT
IS PROVIDING IMPORTANT SERVICE
TO STATES ON HOW TO PROVIDE
EFFECTIVE MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS
TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE EXISTING
MEDICAID PROGRAM.
STILL, WE CAN DO EVEN MORE.
AND THAT’S WHY THE PRESIDENT’S
BUDGET REQUESTS FUNDS FOR
PROJECT AWARE,
A PROGRAM THAT WILL HELP
TEACHERS AND OTHER ADULTS
RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF MENTAL
ILLNESS IN CHILDREN.
IT SUPPORTS PLACING 5,000 NEW
SOCIAL WORKERS, COUNSELORS,
PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND OTHER MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO SERVE
OUR YOUTH IN SCHOOLS AND OTHER
FACILITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
BUT IF WE WANT TO MAKE A REAL
DIFFERENCE, WE NEED TO DO MORE
THAN CHANGE LAWS AND POLICIES.
WE NEED TO CHANGE HEARTS AND
MINDS.
AND THAT’S WHY THE PRESIDENT HAS
ASKED EDUCATION SECRETARY ARNE
DUNCAN AND ME TO LAUNCH A
NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON MENTAL
HEALTH IN THE COMING WEEKS.
THAT DIALOGUE WILL SEEK TO
ADDRESS THE NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS
OF MENTAL ILLNESS THAT KEEP SO
MANY OF OUR NATION'S YOUNG
PEOPLE FROM SEEKING THE CARE
WE WANT TO EDUCATE ADULTS ABOUT
THEY NEED.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE MENTAL ILLNESS
AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.
AND IT WILL CHALLENGE EACH OF US
TO DO OUR PART, CREATING A
CULTURE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL
COMFORTABLE ASKING FOR HELP WHEN
THEY NEED IT.
NOW, TODAY, I’M REALLY DELIGHTED
TO INTRODUCE YOU TO ONE VERY
BRAVE, TALENTED YOUNG WOMAN WHO
UNDERSTANDS JUST HOW IMPORTANT
THESE GOALS ARE, DEMI LOVATO.
NOW, DEMI IS ENORMOUSLY
SUCCESSFUL AS A SINGER, A TV
HOST, AND AN ACTRESS.
AND EVEN THOUGH I’M THE CABINET
SECRETARY WHO REPORTS DIRECTLY
TO THE PRESIDENT, DEMI HAS ONLY
13 MILLION MORE TWITTER
FOLLOWERS THAN I DO.
SO HER VOICE CAN BE HEARD.
NOW, DEMI COULD HAVE EASILY
CHOSEN TO DEAL WITH HER MENTAL
ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
CHALLENGES IN PRIVATE.
EVERYONE WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD
IF SHE DECIDED NOT TO SPEAK OUT
ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS GOING
THROUGH.
INSTEAD, SHE DECIDED TO MAKE IT
HER PERSONAL MISSION TO USE HER
EXPERIENCE TO HELP OTHER YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH
THE SAME CHALLENGES.
FOR MILLIONS OF YOUNG AMERICANS,
DEMI IS NOT ONLY AN ENCOURAGING
VOICE AND A POWERFUL ADVOCATE,
SHE’S LIVING PROOF OF WHAT WE
KNOW TO BE TRUE.
THAT TREATMENT WORKS, THAT
RECOVERY IS REAL, AND THAT
PEOPLE WITH MENTAL CHALLENGES
CAN MAKE INCREDIBLE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND COUNTRY, IF THEY
GET THE CARE THEY NEED.
FOR HER COURAGE AND COMMITMENT
AS AN ADVOCATE, IT’S MY PLEASURE
TODAY TO PRESENT THIS SPECIAL
RECOGNITION AWARD TO DEMI FOR
BEING A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR
AMERICA'S YOUNG ADULTS.
I WANT TO THANK HER FOR BEING
HERE.
THANK YOU, DEMI.
THANK YOU FOR THE MESSAGE OF
HOPE AND RESILIENCE THAT YOU
EXPRESS AND EMBODY EVERY DAY.
AND IF YOU’D JOIN ME HERE AT THE
PODIUM, I GET THE PLEASURE OF
GIVING YOU THIS AWARD.
[APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, SECRETARY
SEBELIUS.
I’M SO HONORED TO BE HERE.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE HONORARY
CHAIRPERSON FOR AWARENESS DAY,
2013,
IT’S REALLY FUNNY TO BE NAMED A
CHAIRPERSON, HONORARY OR NOT, OF
ANYTHING AT MY AGE.
BUT I THINK WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT
ME, THEY SEE A YOUNG WOMAN, AND
YES, MY LIFE IS BLESSED IN MANY
WAYS AND I’M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL
FOR THAT.
I HAVE ALSO, HOWEVER,
EXPERIENCED MY SHARE OF
HARDSHIP.
I’VE LIVED A LOT OF LIFE
ALREADY, AND GAINED A LOT OF
PERSPECTIVE.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, TELLING MY
STORY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
I KNOW HOW SIGNIFICANT HEARING
MY STORY CAN BE TO THE PEOPLE I
MEET, WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH, AND
ARE GOING THROUGH SIMILAR
I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I RECEIVE
CHALLENGES.
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
MESSAGES OF THANKS FROM PEOPLE
YOUNG AND OLD WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES.
SO I CAN TESTIFY THAT THERE ARE
A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE
WHO NEED TO CONNECT WITH
SOMEONE, ANYONE WILLING TO
LISTEN.
I GREW UP IN THE PUBLIC EYE FROM
A VERY YOUNG AGE, BUT THE ISSUES
I DEALT WITH ARE VERY NORMAL.
LIKE MANY, I FELT THE PRESSURE
TO BE PERFECT, TO LOOK PERFECT.
THAT PRESSURE WEARS ON KIDS,
ESPECIALLY YOUNG WOMEN.
BUT NOW IMAGINE THOSE FEELINGS
WHILE STRUGGLING WITH A MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUE OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
YOU’RE CONSTANTLY ASKING
YOURSELF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF
PEOPLE KNOW MY DIAGNOSIS?
WHAT IF THEY DON’T WANT TO BE MY
FRIEND ANYMORE?
WILL THEY JUDGE ME?
WILL THEY SUPPORT ME?
FOR ME, IT WAS MORE COMPLICATED.
WOULD I LOSE MY CAREER DOING
WHAT I LOVE?
WILL I STILL BE ABLE TO SING AND
ACT?
I PRETENDED FOR A LONG TIME TO
BE OK SO THAT I COULD CONTINUE
TO WORK.
I DIDN’T WANT TO LOSE THAT PART
OF MY LIFE, BECAUSE WHAT I LOVE MOST
ABOUT TOURING AND MAKING MUSIC,
IS THE CONNECTION THAT I MAKE
WITH MY FANS.
IT’S INDESCRIBABLE.
AS BETTY FORD ONCE SAID, I THINK
THAT’S WHAT WE’RE HERE ON THIS
EARTH FOR, TO HELP OTHERS, AND
IF YOU CAN, YOU HAVE TO DO IT.
AND THAT’S WHY I’M HERE TODAY,
TO TELL YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE
ASKING THEMSELVES THOSE
QUESTIONS, UNCERTAIN OF WHAT
LIES AHEAD, THAT THEY ARE NOT
ALONE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN
TALK TO, PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP,
BUT I’M ALSO HERE TO TELL THE
ADULTS IN THE CROWD WHO THINK
THEY’RE ALREADY TOO
OVERCOMMITTED TO TAKE ANY TIME
TO GET TO KNOW A YOUNG PERSON,
PLEASE THINK AGAIN.
IT CAN BE A FAMILY MEMBER, A
NEIGHBOR, A FELLOW STUDENT, EVEN
A BAND MEMBER.
THE DATA THAT ADMINISTRATOR HYDE
SHARED TODAY SHOWS THAT SOCIAL
CONNECTIONS REALLY DO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN HOW PEOPLE
PERCEIVE THEMSELVES, WHETHER
THEY FEEL CONFIDENT TO GET OR
KEEP A JOB, OR MOTIVATED TO EVEN
FILL OUT THAT COLLEGE
APPLICATION.
MY FAMILIES AND MY FRIENDS
REALLY PULLED TOGETHER FOR ME.
I WASN’T HAPPY ABOUT THEIR
INTERVENTION, OF COURSE, UNTIL I
REALIZED HOW MUCH THEY CARED.
THEY JUST WANTED ME TO BE
HEALTHY AND HAPPY AGAIN.
AND WITHOUT MUSIC, IT WOULD BE
HARD FOR ME TO STAY IN RECOVERY.
IT’S NOT AN EASY BALANCE.
SOMETIMES TOURING CAN TAKE A LOT
OUT OF ME.
BUT IT’S WHERE I FEEL THE MOST
WHEN YOU HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH
STRONG, TOO.
ISSUE OR YOU’RE SUFFERING
THROUGH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, YOU’RE
GOING TO HAVE DAYS WHEN YOU
STRUGGLE.
BUT HEALING IS THE FIRST STEP TO
RESILIENCE, TO GETTING TO THAT
POINT WHERE YOU CAN SAY I WILL
NOT LET MY PAST DEFINE WHO I AM
TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE A
PART OF YOUR BRIEFING TODAY.
I’M A SURVIVOR OF MENTAL HEALTH.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
I GET TO DO A LOT OF THINGS
ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND EVENTS
SUCH AS THESE.
TIMES LIKE THESE BRING THE
EMOTION FOR ALL OF US, BECAUSE
IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO SEE YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO ARE SUCH COURAGEOUS
YOUNG PEOPLE AND WHO ARE SO
SUCCESSFUL AND WHO ARE SUCH A
PART OF OUR WORLD, WILLING TO
STAND UP AND TALK ABOUT MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES AND ADDICTION
CHALLENGES.
SO THANK YOU BOTH TO DEMI AND TO
LACY.
I DO WANT TO THANK ALL THE
PARTICIPANTS WHO TOOK THE TIME
TODAY AND EVERY DAY TO MAKE
CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH A
PRIORITY.
THANKS ESPECIALLY TO CDC AND TO
CMF, TO ILEANA AND CINDY FOR
YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR
COMMITMENT, AND AS I SAID, TO
LACY AND DEMI FOR YOUR COURAGE
YOUR VOICES DO MATTER.
AND ADVOCACY.
AND IT’S CLEAR THAT EVERYTHING
WE’VE HEARD TODAY, THAT OLDER
ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS
WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE CONCERNS FACE SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGES AS THEY TRANSITION
INTO BECOMING INDEPENDENT
ADULTS.
THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS, SAMHSA IS
PROVIDING TREATMENT SERVICES FOR
THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR
FAMILIES AS THEY MOVE INTO
ADULTHOOD, JUST AS IS CDC, AND
MEDICAID.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THEIR NEEDS
DON’T END OR EVEN SIGNIFICANTLY
CHANGE JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A
BIRTHDAY.
TO LEARN MORE, I INVITE YOU ALL
TO VISIT
WWW.SAMHSA.GOV/CHILDREN.
THAT’S SAMHSA.GOV/CHILDREN, TO
VIEW OUR AWARENESS DAY VIRTUAL
EVENT, WHICH FEATURES YOUNG
PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
TELLING THEIR STORIES IN THEIR
OWN WORDS.
THE VIDEO PRESENTATION WILL
PREVIEW THIS AFTERNOON ON THAT
SITE FROM 3:00 TO 4:00 P.M.
EASTERN TIME, AND WE HOPE THOSE
OF YOU HERE TODAY AND THOSE OF
YOU LISTENING THROUGH VIRTUAL
METHODS FROM ALL OF OUR
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS WILL
SHARE IT WITH YOUR NETWORKS VIA
SOCIAL MEDIA, E-MAIL, AND WORD
OF MOUTH.
AND AS YOU WATCH THE VIDEO, WE
ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN IN THE
CONVERSATION BY PARTICIPATING IN
SAMHSA’S TWEET-UP OCCURRING AT
THE SAME TIME.
WE ARE GETTING INTO THE SOCIAL
WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THE
AGE.
TWEET-UP, AS IT WILL ALLOW US TO
BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER VIRTUALLY
TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE VIDEO
PRESENTATION TOGETHER, AND IT’S
ALSO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU
TO DISCUSS CHALLENGES FACING
YOUNG ADULTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH
AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE CONCERNS AS
THEY TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD,
AS WELL AS TALK ABOUT THE MANY
AWARENESS DAY ACTIVITIES GOING
ON ALL THIS WEEK.
TO FOLLOW SAMHSA’S TWEET-UP FROM
3:00 TO 4:00 P.M. TODAY, SEARCH
FOR THE HEROES OF HOPE HASHTAG.
SEE, I’M LEARNING.
YOU MAY HAVE TO GIVE ME A
THANK YOU, LACY.
USE THE HASHTAG IN YOUR TWEETS
LESSON.
TO JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION.
THAT’S #HEROESOFHOPE.
I DO WANT TO WRAP UP HERE BY
ONCE AGAIN THANKING DR. JIM
LYONS, AND THE UDC STAFF AND
FACULTY AND STUDENTS WHO HOSTED
US TODAY.
I ALSO WANT TO JUST TAKE A
MOMENT TO THANK TRACY BEACH FROM
WJLA TV FOR COLLABORATING WITH
SAMHSA ON THE PRODUCTION OF TWO
NEW PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
ADDRESSING YOUNG ADULTS IN
MENTAL HEALTH.
AND LEON HARRIS, WHO WILL SERVE
AS OUR EMCEE FOR THE VIRTUAL
EVENT THIS AFTERNOON.
I WANT TO DO ANOTHER SPECIAL
THANKS TO DEMI AND LACY, TO
SECRETARY SEBELIUS, ILEANA,
CINDY, AND ALSO A SPECIAL THANKS
TO THE HEAD OF OUR CENTER FOR
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND TO
LISA RUBENSTEIN WHO IS KIND OF
THE HEART BEHIND THIS EVENT
EVERY YEAR, AND TO GARY BLAU,
WHO I THINK WAS AS EMOTIONAL
TODAY AS I WAS ABOUT HOW GREAT
AN EVENT THIS WAS, AND TO ALL
THE SAMHSA STAFF WHO HELPED TO
PULL THIS TOGETHER, INCLUDING
OUR COLLEAGUES FROM VANGUARD
THANK YOU ALL.
PRODUCTIONS.
IT’S NOT SURPRISING THAT
EXPERIENCES IN CHILDHOOD IMPACT
THE FUTURE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
OF AMERICA’S YOUTH AND YOUNG
ADULTS.
WE HAVE TO HELP FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES FIND A WAY TO
PROMOTE POSITIVE EMOTIONAL AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND TO TALK
ABOUT IT AND TO LET IT BE OK
TO BE A PART OF OUR DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON
HELPING OUR NATION’S YOUNG
PEOPLE REACH THEIR FULL
POTENTIAL.
IT’S OUR JOB, AS THE SECRETARY
SAID, TO CHANGE THE HEARTS AND
MINDS OF AMERICA SO THAT WE CAN
BETTER ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH.
WE OFTEN HEAR THE FUTURE OR THE
PHRASE THAT CHILDREN ARE OUR
FUTURE, AND THAT’S REALLY TRUE.
THEY CAN BE OUR FUTURE INMATES.
THEY CAN BE OUR FUTURE HOMELESS
PEOPLE.
THEY CAN BE OUR FUTURE WORKERS.
OR THEY CAN BE OUR FUTURE
INNOVATORS, WORKERS AND LEADERS.
WE HAVE THAT CHOICE.
ALL OF US, THE CHOICE IS OURS.
SO THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING WITH
US TODAY.
[APPLAUSE ]