For Immediate
Release |
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Social Workers Urge President Bush and Congress to Make Mental Health Parity a Priority
Washington — The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) agrees with the recently released report from President Bush’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health recommending fundamental change for America’s failing mental health care system. Social workers also strongly concur with the commissions’ emphasis on recovery and community living as the major outcomes of mental health services.
“Mental health is as important as physical health,” says Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH, executive director of NASW. “Mental health treatment should be provided in parity with treatment for other types of illness in all health care plans.”
“Mental health parity has been a legislative priority for the Association. Social workers throughout the country agree that mental health care in America is inadequate and needs transformation. We’ve been saying this for years, ” Clark says. “Let’s hope that the President and Congress now see the importance as well.”
Nationwide, social workers provide the majority of mental health and therapy services. Social workers emphasize that a more integrated system of care — focusing on prevention, empowerment, and recovery — is necessary to transform the current mental health care service delivery.
For more information about NASW’s position on mental health
care, or to arrange an interview with Dr. Clark or social workers
with expertise in mental health, please contact NASW Communications
at media@naswdc.org
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The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 140,000 members. It promotes, develops and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well being of individuals, families and communities through advocacy.