Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America
The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health

In February 2001, President George W. Bush announced his New Freedom Initiative to promote increased access to educational and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The initiative also promotes increased access to assistive and universally designed technologies and full access to community life. The President launched the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health to address the problems in the mental health service delivery system that allow Americans to fall through the system's cracks.

Final Report
The Final Report of the Commission was released in July 2003. To improve access to quality care and services, the Commission recommended fundamentally transforming how mental health care is delivered in America.

The Six New Freedom Commission Goals
The Commission identified six goals as the foundation for transforming mental health care.

Subcommittee Reports
The subcommittees of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health released reports on the following topics: acute care, children and families, co-occurring disorders, consumer issues, criminal justice, cultural competence, employment and income support, evidence-based practices, homelessness/housing, Medicaid, medication issues, mental health interface with general medicine, older adults, rights and engagement, rural issues and suicide prevention.