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Congress passed the National Mental Health Act.
This was the first time in US history where federal funding was provided for psychiatric education and research. -
Creation of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
NIMH is dedicated to research and focused on the treatment, understanding, and prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of mental health. -
Creation of the Community Mental Health Act of 1963
This was the first time federal funds were used to provide for mental illnesses. -
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Decade of the Brain
In this decade, progress was made through federal investment in research—in basic neuroscience, behavior science, and genetics—about the complex workings of the brain and mental illnesses. -
Children’s Health Act reauthorized the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
This called for greater focus on measurement of mental health care outcomes. The act amended SAMHSA’s existing authorities to give the agency more flexibility to direct mental health and substance abuse funding; increased state flexibility to direct the use of block grant funds, creating several new competitive grant programs to expand mental health and substance abuse services for children and adolescents -
The Institute of Medicine released a report titled Improving the Quality of Health Care for Mental and Substance-Use Conditions: Quality Chasm Series
This report examined the mental health care treatment system and recommends a comprehensive strategy to improve its quality. -
The US Department of Health and Human Services released Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General
This report reviewed scientific advances in the understanding of mental health and mental illnesses. -
The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 expanded federal requirements for mental health coverage
This helped end insurance discrimination against those seeking treatment for mental health and substance use disorders and this law requires health insurance to cover both mental and physical health equally.
