PREPARED STATEMENT

There are times, Mr. Chairman, really in the history of every biomedical research discipline when the conceptual framework combines with the scientific technology to restructure and reorient an entire field and to thrust it forward in a quantum leap of progress. That is precisely what is happening at the NIMH today. And we would urge your strong consideration to maintain that thrust by the consideration of the budget that NAMI and the others are requesting for the NIMH of this year, $867.9 million.

We are prepared to answer any questions you may have. [The statement follows:)

STATEMENT OF DR. LEWIS L. JUDD

Thank you Chairman Harkin, it is indeed a pleasure to appear

before you and this distinguished Subcommittee today in behalf of

years of research.

I do not think these two events are unrelated.

efforts if we

are to learn more about how to prevent and treat the

crippling or malfunction of the mind."

Mr. Chairman, those words

were contained in the Message To The Congress from President John

relax our effort to push back the frontiers of knowledge in basic

and applied research into the mental processes, in therapy, and in

other phases of research with a bearing upon mental illness."

Now, just last month,

President

Bush's Coordinator for the

Decade of the Brain effort, Dr. D. Allan Bromley, wrote in NAMI's

research quarterly, The Decade of_the_Brain, "It has always seemed

Mr. Chairman, I agree with Dr. Bromley, that even in these

enlightened times, it is clear

that mental illness, a problem of

major proportions which adversely affects our health, well-being,

and productivity as a Nation, is still shrouded in mystery, shame,

Aizheimer's disease, manic depressive illness or anxiety disorders.

Tragically, only one-fifth of all adults with a diagnosable

mental illness in this country actually receive the treatment they

measure the cost of the untold human suffering experienced by our

also clear even if one considers only the amount of time Americans

Depression, in fact, has been shown to have a higher morbidity rate

costs of mental disorders add up to a staggering $129 billion each

year.

Mr. Chairman, I also agree with Dr. Bromley that unparalleled

only to overcome mental disorders but also to eliminate associated

As a part of its leadership role, NIMH has completed a series

the 21st Century: Opportunities for NIMH Neuroscience Research;

The rational Pian for Research on Schizophrenia and the Brain; The

This new research plan represents a systematic, science-based

attack

on the inadequacy and low quality of services provided to

severely mentally ill persons in this country.

I

am pleased to

report that NAMI is sponsoring two seminars to explain the details

Director of the Division of Applied and Services Research, will

direct the NIMH presentations on May 8 from 9:00

am to 11:30

am in

this building, Room SD-562, and on June 6 in the Gold Room 2168 of

provide an over-arching strategy to guide NIMH research programs

throughout this decade.

Unfortunately, however, despite ?resident

Kennecy's challenge over a quarter of a century ago,

the unfair and

unreasonable attitudes associated with illnesses of

the mind and

brain were carried-over into our public policies for many years.

As

a result, the mental health field was chronically and severely The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Congress,

for some time were considered as having an unhealthy tradition of

these projects, followed by the action by your's and

the House's

Labor-his-Education Appropriations Subcommittees last year,

1992 does not indicate any change in this situation at OMB, but I

promises, as they did last year, making significant increases for

the

NIMH budget.

Therefore,

I

come here today with optimism to

advocate for an increase in research funding for NIMH.

in order to

take optimum advantage of existing circumstances,

this Subcommittee should adopt AMI's alternative budget which is

endorsed by the Mental fealth Liaison Group (MHLG).

Although the president's budget shows a $40 million increase

President's request is actually a reduction of $.3 million below

the amount needed to maintain the current levels (* providing the

services adjusted for

the

rate

of inflation)