APA CEO Norman B. Anderson, PhD, joined first lady Michelle Obama and other leaders from the mental health and business communities in Washington, D.C., March 4 to launch The Campaign to Change Directionopens in new window, aimed at altering Americans’ attitudes and behaviors toward mental health and wellness. The event was coordinated and hosted by APA member Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen whose visionary leadership is responsible for this new campaign.
The Change Direction Campaign is an outgrowth of Give An Hour. Founded in 2005 by Dr. Van Dahlen, Give An Hour is a national non-profit network of 7,000 mental health professionals offering pro bono services to active military personnel, veterans and their families.
“I congratulate Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, both personally and on behalf of APA, for creating such an innovative public education campaign. This campaign offers hope to the many individuals, including our friends and family members, who are suffering in silence due to unrecognized mental health needs. APA is honored to partner in an initiative that holds so much promise to reduce the stigma of mental health problems and help people receive the care they need,” said Anderson.
APA is a founding member of the campaign, joining partners that include the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Aetna, the Case Foundation, Logistics Health Inc., the American Psychiatric Association and the National Association of Social Workers.
At the launch event, Mrs. Obama gave an impassioned address describing her first hand experiences with the traumatic effects that war has on some veterans and the need for all Americans to recognize the importance of mental health.
“There should be no distinction between mental and physical health,” Obama said. “Imagine if we told folks with heart disease to buck up and get over it.”
“My husband believes if you are fighting illness, whether it’s mental or physical, you should be able to get the help you need,” she said.
Anderson was part of a panel with the CEOs of the American Psychiatric Association and the National Association of Social Workers discussing what their organizations are doing to educate the public and break down barriers to mental health treatment. He outlined APA’s support for the integration of mental and behavioral health services into primary health care settings.
“When someone goes to their health provider, a mental health checkup should be just as routine as a physical checkup. That’s comprehensive health care,” Anderson said.
Other APA members participating in the kickoff event included Randy Phelps, PhD, APA’s senior advisor for health care financing and a member of the campaign’s steering committee, and Arthur Evans, PhD, a member of APA’s Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice. Dr. Evans is the Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Campaign to Change Direction bills itself as “a coalition of government, business and nonprofit leaders who have come together to address the urgent need for open discussion about mental health, mental illness and well-being.”
The campaign’s primary goals are:
- Increasing awareness that positive mental health is an important part of who we are.
- Diminishing the stigma that prevents some from seeking access to mental health services.
- Supporting integration of mental health care as part of overall health care.
The campaign’s focus is to spread awareness of the “5 Signs” of emotional suffering:
- Changes in personality.
- Uncharacteristic anger, anxiety, agitation or moodiness.
- Withdrawal or isolation from other people.
- Lack of personal care or hygiene, or engaging in risky behavior.
- Being overcome with hopelessness and overwhelmed by circumstances.
Campaign members plan to teach 30 million Americans in the next five years about the signs, and provide access to additional information.
The launch was the culmination of 18 months of planning. Other featured speakers included Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundationopens in new window and Bruce Cohen, producer of the Academy Award-winning film “Silver Linings Playbook.”