Definitions:

United States federal government - some agencies related to the question
Health and Human Services, http://www.hhs.gov/agencies/, including:
Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/ophs/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (and within, NIMH)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (and within CMHS www.mentalhealth.org)
DOJ and EEOC for ADA related matters
Homeland Security

substantially increase: - some examples of current federal funding
www.contac.org
www.power2u.org
www.mhselfhelp.org
www.protectionandadvocacy.com
http://www.ncstac.org/
www.pai-ca.org

Public health is concerned with  the conditions for a healthy global society, emphasizes prevention, promotes and protects environmental and community health

www.apha.org

"The mission of public health is to "fulfill society's interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy." (Institute of Medicine, Committee for the Study of the Future of Public Health, Division of Health Care Services. 1988. The Future of Public Health. National Academy Press, Washington, DC)"

http://www.asph.org/aa_section.cfm/3

"Public health agencies balance three core government public health functions which are essential to the maintenance of population-based services: (1) public health agencies assess community health status and whether the community has adequate resources to address the problems that are identified; (2) public health agencies must ? the data gathered through assessment to develop health policy and recommend programs to carry out those health policies; (3) public health agencies must assure that necessary, high quality, effective services are available. This includes a responsibility for quality assurance through licensing and other mechanisms. Washington State Core Government Public Health Functions Task Force, Core Public Health Functions: A Progress Report, Washington State DEPT of Health, Olympia, WA, January, 1993 "

http://depts.washington.edu/hserv/research/phdefinitions.shtml

"Mental health—the successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity; from early childhood until late life, mental health is the springboard of thinking and communication skills, learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem."

"Mental illness—the term that refers collectively to all mental disorders. Mental disorders are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior (or some combination thereof) associated with distress and/or impaired functioning."

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General—Executive Summary . Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, 1999.

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/summary.html

"Mental health has been defined variously by scholars from different cultures. Concepts of mental health include subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, intergenerational dependence, and self-actualization of one's intellectual and emotional potential, among others. From a cross-cultural perspective, it is nearly impossible to define mental health comprehensively. It is, however, generally agreed that mental health is broader than a lack of mental disorders." (Chapter 1), World Health Report 2001

http://www.who.int/whr/2001/main/en/overview/outline.htm

M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled:  four disciplines are necessary for mental health: delaying gratification, assuming responsibility, dedication to truth (reality), discipline.

"Improving the quality of mental health services, reducing the stigma associated with mental and emotional disorders. protecting the human rights of persons defined as mentally ill,.promoting mental health,. preventing mental/emotional illness, distress and less than optimal function, both in general populations and in vulnerable groups at risk, identifying widespread mental health issues, and encouraging international, national and local campaigns for public education."

World Federation for Mental Health, www.wfmh.org

National Mental Health Association www.nmha.org "envisions a just, humane and healthy society in which all people are accorded respect, dignity, and the opportunity to achieve their full potential free from stigma and prejudice.

"Values: Justice demands that every person, regardless of disability and other characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, age, economic status or sexual orientation, has the right and responsibilities of full participation in society.   Mental health is essential to the development and realization of every person’s full potential.  Sufficient resources need to be applied to a complete range of mental health research, and then effectively applied to preventive interventions, education, treatment, and community services design.  People with mental illnesses can recover and live healthy and productive lives.  Mental health treatment should not have more limits on access and reimbursements than other illnesses.  Services must be linguistically and culturally appropriate.  Children with, at risk of, serious emotional disturbances, their families or surrogate families must have access to high quality, community-based, integrated systems of care.  All people should have access to a full array of high quality, community-based, culturally competent, integrated mental health services, regardless of ability to pay.  All consumers, parents and families are unique and essential participants in providing advocacy, services, education, and training.  The promotion of mental health and the prevention of mental, emotional and social problems is the responsibility of every person and social institution in the community. ...  Broad-based citizen participation (is) essential to community mental health. ..."

Home: www.peoplewho.org