Scientific Council Member, Jeffrey A. Lieberman, M.D. of Columbia University Medical Center presents an overview of the current state of mental healthcare, offering specific recommendations on how to continue to improve it. He notes that “the care for persons with mental illness is better now than ever before in human history, and there is great promise for it to get better in the future.”

It will get better by the discovery of new knowledge through scientific research, and while there is a viable academic workforce to make the discoveries, there is a lack of sustained support, he argues. Acknowledging that progress and breakthroughs through research can be slow, he says “it is imperative that we also pursue the … application of existing knowledge. Just a few changes in clinical practices, services provided, and reimbursement methods would make a huge difference in the quality of care and outcomes of patients.”  

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