"WITHIN OUR REACH: Ending the Mental Health Crisis”
A Panel Discussion
Led by
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter
hosted by

Serving the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area

Panel Discussion:

• February 14, 2011
• 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm, Graham Chapel, Washington University
• Reservations required by February 7, 2011; all attendees will receive a complimentary autographed copy of Mrs. Carter’s new book, Within Our Reach: Ending the Mental Health Crisis
• Donations are appreciated, donors will be listed in the program as “supporters”; funds will be used to provide resources for mental health awareness and increase access to services
• Click Here to Register 
• Click Here to Become an Event Sponsor

Rosalynn Carter’s Presentation:
Despite great progress toward understanding the causes and treatments for mental illnesses, our nation’s health care system continues to fail people living with these conditions. And no one is more passionate or persuasive on the matter than Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who has been a driving force in the field of mental health throughout her public service career.

Carter has been deeply invested in this issue since her husband’s gubernatorial campaign, when she saw firsthand the horrific dehumanizing treatment those with mental illnesses endured. Carter writes, “Americans think of ourselves as decent, generous and compassionate people and for the most part we are. But we treat a large portion of our own population as if they are second class citizens. Ultimately, the way we treat people with mental illnesses in our society is a moral issue—to neglect those, who through no fault of their own, are in need runs counter to our core principles—the values of decency and equality that we hold dear.”

Carter will highlight populations keenly shortchanged: children, the elderly, the poor, those affected by trauma (everyone from Katrina victims to veterans), and those trapped in the criminal justice system, among others. Through deeply personal reflections, based on her years of advocacy, Carter will illustrate why these groups are suffering and reveals the solutions we can implement now to remedy the situation. 

The panel discussion, Within Our Reach: Our Challenges for Those Suffering from Mental Illness, will be hosted by Washington University.  The panel members will include Dr. Keith Schafer, Director Department of Mental Health, State of Missouri; Kathy Ellis, COMTREA Board Member; Diane McFarland, Chief Executive Officer, Behavioral Health Network of Greater St. Louis(BHN); Jackie Lukitsch, Executive Director NAMI St. Louis, MO; Rabbi Susan Talve, Rabbi at Central Reform Congregation Greater St. Louis Area; and faculty of Washington University.

COMTREA, NAMI, MHA, BHN