And finally, I want to say thank you to the many people throughout the country who responded to the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent Suicide , a document that was released this past June in this very room in the presence of Mrs. Gore. I am grateful for all of the responses we received, whether through letters, e-mails, books, or notes. Each correspondence, although it may not have said it in exact words, bespoke the fact that the time has come for addressing overall mental health problems in this nation. Let me emphasize three important findings from the report. First, mental health is fundamental to overall health and the public health of our nation.
Mental health is indispensable to personal well-being and to leading a balanced and productive life.
Second, mental disorders are real. In this report, we have established the clear scientific base showing that brain chemistry affects behavior, and behavior can affect brain chemistry. There is no longer any scientific justification for distinguishing between mental illness and other forms of illness in terms of physical and chemical manifestations. Mental illnesses ARE physical illnesses. I hope that as more people become aware of this prevalence they are convinced once and for all that it is time we end the blame and stigma that have traditionally surrounded mental illness in this country.