Skip to main content
Full access
Association News
Published Online: 2 January 2009

MHA Leader Promises Transformation

David Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America (MHA), one of the nation's leading mental health advocacy organizations, says that MHA is celebrating its centennial this year and is taking advantage of that milestone as “an opportunity to look back and look forward.”
Credit: David Hathcox
In a presentation at the APA Board of Trustees meeting last month in Arlington, Va., David Shern, Ph.D., emphasized that a crucial focus for Mental Health America (MHA), which he heads, looking forward will be on prevention of mental illness, now that science has provided knowledge and tools “to do it right.”
As it reconceptualizes the way it addresses mental health and mental illness issues, MHA will turn to multistake-holder work groups whose mission will be setting a “transformative agenda” for the organization, Shern said. It will also devote considerable effort to make sure that mental health is integrated into “mainstream” health care.
Mental health clinicians and advocates need to focus more on chronic illness, which means doing a better job of preventing, treating, and managing it, he noted. He pointed out that mental illness is the most frequent comorbid chronic medical condition, but its treatment often takes a back seat to that for other conditions. Recognition and treatment of chronic mental illness could, however, “be a real cost saver” in the long run. ▪

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

History

Published online: 2 January 2009
Published in print: January 2, 2009

Authors

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

Format
Citation style
Style
Copy to clipboard

View Options

View options

Login options

Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.

Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens login

Not a subscriber?

Subscribe Now / Learn More

PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Share article link

Share