New Freedom Commission on Mental Health

President George W. Bush established the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health in April 2002 as part of his commitment to eliminate inequality for Americans with disabilities. President Bush directed the Commission to identify policies that could be implemented by federal, state and local governments to maximize the utility of existing resources, improve coordination of treatments and services, and promote successful community integration for adults with a serious mental illness and children with a serious emotional disturbance.

In July 2003, the non-partisan Commission issued a report stressing the importance of the early detection and intervention of mental illness. Goal Four of the Commission’s final report highlights the important role mental health screening can play in detecting mental illness, and the report went on to specifically highlight TeenScreen as a model screening program for youth.


Goal 4	Early Mental Health Screening, Assessment, and Referral to Services Are Common Practice

Recommendations	4.1 Promote the mental health of young children. 4.2 Improve and expand school mental health programs. 4.3 Screening for co-occurring mental and substance use disorders and link with integrated treatment strategies. 4.4 Screen for mental disorders in primary health care, across the life span, and connect to treatment and supports.