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Mayor's Mental Health Task Force
The Mayor’s
Mental Health Task Force is the result of several years of community
concern over the challenges faced by residents with severe mental
illnesses. On October 15, 2003, the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
convened a "Community Forum on Persons with Mental Illness"
that was attended by thirty consumers, advocates, and community
leaders. Continued discussions led to Mayor Will Wynn’s decision
to create a Mental Health Task Force to address issues and to suggest
improvements in the provision of services for individuals with mental
disabilities.
Statement
of Purpose
The Mental Health
Task Force was charged with examining the mental health of the Austin/Travis
County community, with particular emphasis on four critical areas:
(1) education and community awareness, (2) justice systems, (3)
housing, and (4) short- and long-term treatment. After identifying
mental health needs, as well as gaps and sources of fragmentation
in mental health services, the Task Force delineated a set of criteria
to measure the characteristics of a mentally healthy community and
recommended actions necessary to transform Austin’s system
of mental health care.
Goals
The Mental Health
Task Force aimed to:
1. Identify the criteria that defines a mentally healthy community,
including infrastructure, resources, policies, programs, training,
and attitudes.
2. Measure the status of each criterion in Austin/Travis County.
3. Develop an action plan to become a more mentally healthy community
by building on Austin/Travis County’s strengths and addressing
any weaknesses.
Mental
Health Task Force Links
Mayor's
Mental Health Task Force Final Report (PDF)
National
Institute of Mental Health
Report: The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America (2001).
Department
of Health and Human Services
National Survey on Drug Abuse: Volume I. Summary of National Findings;
Prevalence and Treatment of Mental Health Problems (2003).
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