Trauma is at the root of most mental illness, substance abuse,violence and incarcerations. The public needs a general understanding of what it looks like and the language to communicate to each other about it.

Activities such as partnership with the CDC to offer communications continuing education and integration of behavioral health messaging with all other public health messaging is imperative to advance these issues to the forefront of public health concerns.

There are existing state efforts being tested that target business organizations, civic groups and others and offer packaged educational programs and awareness activities. It would be wise to look at some of these programs and work to incorporate their ideas into a national product that can then be disseminated through state behavioral health authorities. The effort not only reaches the workforce, but also be used to build local support and expand partnership opportunities to groups outside of traditional stakeholders.

SAMHSA media and public outreach efforts could be coordinated with state communications/public information programs to more effectively gain media attention and reach intended target audiences. Development of a state public information director's association and sponsorship of training/continuing education opportunities could strengthen efforts to disseminate consistent messaging and support a broad-scale public response.

The limited funding that does exist for state behavioral health programs must be used to meet overwhelming demand for treatment services. Public information and outreach efforts therefore have limited access to necessary funding supports, yet these services are vital to linking consumers to care, overcoming public stigma and advancing understanding that would altimately lead to increased behavioral health funding.

Anti-stigma campaigns focusing on education about mental illness, from pre-teens and up, to increase awareness of the physical, psychological, economic, and social aspects of all types of mental illnesses with the hope that upcoming generations will be more tolerant, understanding, and accepting of mental illness in peers, family, and themselves.

educate all cross systems around children from a family member prespective.

My son had a program at his highschool talking about Mental Health and had exercises etc.. What about starting programs in elementary school? Teaching kids the importance about not judging each other, erasing stigmas before they have a chance to begin.

direct to consumer advertising on television and in magazines keeps US citizens drug dependent

We cannot continue to keep ourselves silod from the rest of healthcare. We have a lot to offer the entire healthcare system. Also, a large number of the people we serve are not getting the physical healthcare they need. We will not bridge this until we are recognized as healthcare, not and add on.