[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 25, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9227-S9228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO DR. BERNARD S. ARONS

   Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I rise today to join my 
colleagues Senator Edward Kennedy, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, and 
many others to recognize the extraordinary achievements of Dr. Bernard 
S. Arons as Director of the Center for Mental Health Services at the 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and to 
acknowledge his departure as he moves forward to become Senior Science 
Advisor to the new Director of the National Institute of Mental Health. 
As we strive to pass critically important mental health legislation in 
this Congress, we know how fortunate we have been to have Bernie's 
extraordinary leadership at CMHS during these past nine years. His 
expertise and remarkable ability to integrate mental health services 
with evidence-based practices and scientific research made him an 
outstanding national leader who directed our country's mental health 
agenda through many years of challenge and crisis.
  When Bernie first came to CMHS in 1993, he faced an enormous 
challenge: heading a new Federal Center whose mission was to lead our 
country in the delivery of mental health services. To do this, he faced 
the reality of inadequate resources at the federal, state, and local 
level for those with mental illness. The lack of mental health parity 
in private and public health care systems leaves many states struggling 
with how to help. Yet he was undaunted. He and his extraordinary staff 
at CMHS led the way on making mental health a major priority for this 
country. For these last 9 years, he has clearly taken our country 
forward and helped to restore hope to the millions of Americans with 
mental illness. Bernie's extraordinary talents as an administrator, 
scientist, and communicator, have made him a major force in advancing 
the public's awareness of the ways in which mental illness affects the 
lives of so many. Although stigma still exists, there are very few who 
dare to challenge the fact that mental disorders are real, that they 
are treatable, that there are effective national and community programs 
that can help, and that we must do more to ensure that all get the 
treatment they need.
  During his tenure at CMHS, Bernie worked closely with former Surgeon 
General David Satcher to publish the first-ever Surgeon General's 
Report on Mental Health, which continues to enhance national awareness 
of mental health issues. He led CMHS in addressing many critical mental 
health issues that traditionally impede access to quality services, 
such as stigma and lack of community services. His commitment to making 
a difference fueled the work on a National Strategy for Suicide 
Prevention, which continues to bring together researchers, providers, 
advocates and consumers in developing a prevention plan to reduce 
suicide in the United States. Bernie also guided

[[Page S9228]]

CMHS in providing a national response to recent terrorist threats, 
based in science and best practices. From studies on parity in mental 
health coverage to initiatives on school violence, CMHS has become a 
leading national voice on mental health issues under his leadership.
  We are particularly pleased that Bernie was at the forefront of the 
efforts to shape the future of mental health services as our country 
faced the crisis of terrorism. More than ever, his efforts to include 
the voices of patients and families in the overall planning process at 
CMHS was needed. We too rely on those whose lives are touched by mental 
disorders to be the true experts in our work to shape public policy.
  With his thoughtful, wise, and gentle manner, Bernie is truly a man 
who has the ability to bring together people with diverse 
responsibilities and missions to address the serious mental health 
crisis. Through his efforts, and with minimal resources, he shaped CMHS 
into an institution that has brought us so much further in the struggle 
to provide decent mental health services, reduce stigma, and to 
recognize as a society that mental disorders are real and treatable.
  As he departs from the Center for Mental Health Services, we wish him 
well and thank him for all he has done to improve mental health care in 
our country. We are confident that Bernie has placed CMHS on a course 
that promises to build on these remarkable achievements, one that will 
meet the extraordinarily challenging mental health needs ahead. Dr. 
Bernie Arons will be sorely missed, but we know he will continue to be 
a major force for the improvement of mental health care in our 
country.

                          ____________________