and so i do think it is getting a lot better for this dittman is concerned. so to fight our scientific breakthroughs, the shame and years of nontank mental illnesses still do exist. said that is our challenge even though i think we have made a lot of progress and will continue to. as was mentioned when al became vice president of was determined to use the platform afforded to me to change a bit outdated attitudes about mental health and mental illness so as a special adviser to the president had traveled around the country speaking about this issue and words closely with many of you in your states and listen to what you had to say about what you can do to create meaningful change so we have work to together and shared many milestones including your fantastic partnership in 1986 that led to publishing homeless and america but a graphic project which tried to raise awareness about homelessness and particularly the homeless mentally ill and around the country and now we were very proud of that. as has been stated their release in 1999 of the first surgeon genera