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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release December 13, 1999

STATEMENT BY THE VICE PRESIDENT ON THE FIRST-EVER SURGEON GENERAL'S

REPORT ON MENTAL HEALTH

I am pleased that today Tipper Gore, Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, and Surgeon General David Satcher are unveiling the first Surgeon General's report on Mental Health. This landmark report documents that mental illness impacts millions of Americans but that effective treatments are more available than ever before.

This report is also a call to action. While we know more about how to treat mental illness, it underscores that too often fear and shame and misunderstanding still prevent millions of Americans with mental disorders from getting the help they need. We must renew our national commitment to reduce stigmas about mental health and combat the disparities.

I am grateful for the dedication of Secretary Shalala and Surgeon General David Satcher to address this critical issue. And I applaud my wife Tipper, the President's Advisor on Mental Health, for her longstanding leadership and resolve to fight stigmas and myths surrounding mental illness and raise hope for millions of Americans.

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