for whole health, which is a really exciting national organization where people with mental illness and others are coming together to advocate jointly, so it's nami, mental health america, faces & voices of recovery, the legal action center working with advocates as part of the coalition nationally and then working in states, because we need to advocate at the state level to make sure that the recovery supports and other activities that we know need to be part of health reform are implemented at the state level. so advocating on the essential health benefit, for example, to make sure that the full continuum of care that people need to recover both from addiction and mental illness are available. and fran, these organizations, are they-how likely are they to really pick up the mantle, as pat was noting that they have to pick up? is there a federal role, state role in this process, and if so, what is it? i think there's both, and i'll let arthur speak for himself, but in the federal role, what we're doing, and we're doing very well by the way. we are bringing these federal-these national organizations together, and then we're asking in a local level, in a state and local level,

mental health in america today. mental health disorders affect tens of millions of people throughout our country each year. instead sumed will suffer in silence. those who do receive treatments will be left to face the feelings of shame, guilt, and secrecy. that understand these challenges all too well. i connect with this deeply because i have been there. i was 15 on august 5th of 1999 when suicide took my brother's life at the ag age of 20 in the acre of grass next to our child at home where we used to laugh and play together. eight years later at the age of 23i was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. after suffering for years in silence. as i began to heal, however, i had this overwhelming urge to share my story with others. i have been able to do that for the past years through active mines, a national nonprofit organization that empowers students to openly discuss mental health issues on campuses nationwide. the tens of millions of people who are suffering, they are our friends, family members, our neighbors, colleagues, and it is time we pull together to put an end to the suffering. and now it is my pleasure and honor to introduce to you the president of the united states, president