The New Freedom Initiative (US): Ready To Be Tested?

According to a //www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom/toc-2004.html">Progress Report, The New Freedom Initiative is a //www.whitehouse.gov/news/freedominitiative/freedominitiative.html">new project announced by the White House to "help Americans with disabilities ...". But apparently, President Bush plans to unveil next month a sweeping mental health initiative that recommends screening for every citizen and promotes the use of expensive antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs. Under the initiative, every citizen of virtually every age, including preschool children, is to be screened for mental illness. Schools will be used as the screening centres for the 52 million kids and 6 million teachers who attend them.
Here is an excerpt from //www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom/newfreedom-report-2004.pdf">the Mental Health Commission report driving this initiative: "The Commission concluded that the mental health service delivery system in the United States must be substantively transformed. In the transformed system: 1) Americans understand that mental health is essential to overall health; 2) mental health care is consumer and family-driven; 3) disparities in mental health services are eliminated; 4) early mental health screening, assessment, and referral to services are common practice; 5) excellent mental health services are delivered and research is accelerated; and 6) technology is used to access mental health care and information.
The model for the New Freedom initiative is the //www.mhmr.state.tx.us/centraloffice/medicaldirector/TMAPtoc.html">TMAP, which stands for the //www.mhmr.state.tx.us/centraloffice/medicaldirector/TMAPover.html">Texas Medication Algorithm Project - that's right, the state that George used to govern, a project that first saw the light of day during his time in office there. TMAP promotes the use of the new, and more expensive, antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, such as Zyprexa (olanzapine), which is Eli Lilly's best selling drug. It grossed $4.28bn in 2003, with 70 per cent of the revenues paid for by government agencies such as Medicare and Medicaid." Critics say the plan protects the profits of drug companies at the expense of the public. b>Will you pass George's mental health test?

Screening programs are already under way. Find out more here:
//www.mentalhealthscreening.org/">Screening for Mental Health