    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [June 5, 1999]
    [Pages 890-891]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    June 5, 1999

        The President. Good morning. I'm here today with Tipper Gore, my adviser for mental health policy. On Monday,
    together with Vice President Gore and the
    First Lady, we will convene the first
    White House Conference on Mental Health. Today Tipper and I want to talk
    about what we must do as a nation to fight the stigma that prevents so
    many Americans with mental illness from making the most of their lives.
        For more than 6 years now, our administration has worked hard to
    widen the circle of opportunity for every American. That means making
    sure people living with mental illness have the same chance to live up
    to their God-given potential as all other Americans.
        But the hard truth is, in too many of our communities and in too
    many of our hearts, mental illness is misunderstood and feared. Too

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    many people with mental illness are denied the opportunity to fully
    participate in American life. Bias against people with mental illness is
    not unique in our time or our Nation. But as a nation founded on the
    idea of equality, we must use our time to change it.
        Tipper Gore is leading our efforts, and I'd
    like to ask her to say a few words.
        Tipper Gore. Thank you, Mr. President.
        Every day, in every community in America, millions of Americans and
    their families face the problem of mental illness. In fact, more than
    one in five Americans experiences some form of mental illness every
    year, from depression to schizophrenia; one in four Americans has a
    family member with a mental illness; and virtually every American has a
    friend, a neighbor, or a colleague with a mental illness.
        We know that mental illness is not something that happens to other
    people. It touches us all. Why then is mental illness met with so much
    misunderstanding and fear? We have come so far in the diagnosis and
    treatment of mental illness, but our attitudes have lagged far behind.
        I have talked to many people about the impact these outdated
    attitudes have on their lives. Some tell me that the shame and stigma
    they experience are harder to bear than the illness itself. Many live in
    fear that they will lose their jobs, their home, or their health
    benefits if their condition becomes known. And so too many people with
    mental illness don't seek treatment that can change their lives, and the
    vicious cycle of silence, ignorance, and stigma continues. If we are
    ever going to put an end to this vicious cycle, we have to take
    responsibility and dispel the myths about mental illness once and for
    all.
        One of the most widely believed and most damaging myths is that
    mental illness is a personal failure, not a physical disease. A recent
    study shows that the majority of Americans don't believe that mental
    illness can be accurately diagnosed or treated. Nothing could be farther
    from the truth.
        Increasingly, we are learning that many mental disorders are
    biological in nature and can be medically treated--in some cases, more
    effectively than illnesses like heart disease. New drugs and better
    community health services are making it possible for even those with the
    most severe disorders to live healthier, more productive lives.
        A closely related and equally troubling myth is that young people
    don't suffer from real depression; they're just naturally moody, we
    think. Again, this is simply untrue. We recently learned that even very
    young children experience serious clinical depression, and it should be
    taken seriously.
        Consider this: The majority of children who commit suicide are
    profoundly depressed, and the majority of parents whose children took
    their own lives say they didn't recognize that depression until it was
    too late. And senior citizens, too, often accept the notion that
    depression is a natural part of aging and don't reach out for help.
        These myths don't just harm people with mental disorders; they hurt
    all of us. That is why we must all do our part to break the silence
    about mental illness.
        The President. We must start by talking honestly about the problem,
    and this Monday we'll take an important step in the right direction.
    Tipper's own decision to discuss her struggle
    with depression is a testament to her courage and commitment to change
    attitudes and build understanding about mental illness.
        I'm pleased to announce that later this year, together with the
    Surgeon General, Tipper will unveil a major new campaign to combat stigma and
    dispel myths about mental illness. With new public service announcements
    and strong partners in the private sector, we'll reach millions of
    Americans with a simple message: Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed
    of, but stigma and bias shame us all.
        Together, we will replace stigma with acceptance, ignorance with
    understanding, fear with new hope for the future. Together, we will
    build a stronger nation for the new century, leaving no one behind.
        Thanks for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 4:50 p.m. on June 4 in the Oval Office
    at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on June 5. The transcript
    was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on June 4 but
    was embargoed for release until the broadcast.