The United States leads the world in understanding the importance of overall health and wellbeing
to the strength of a Nation and its people. What we are coming to realize is that mental health
is absolutely essential to achieving prosperity. According to the landmark “Global Burden of
Disease” study, commissioned by the World Health Organization and the World Bank, 4 of the 10
leading causes of disability for persons age 5 and older are mental disorders. Among developed
nations, including the United States, major depression is the leading cause of disability. Also near
the top of these rankings are manic-depressive illness, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive
disorder. Mental disorders also are tragic contributors to mortality, with suicide perennially
representing one of the leading preventable causes of death in the United States atid.worldwide.