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MONTGOMERY – Department of Mental Health & Mental Retardation Commissioner Kathy Sawyer announced today that her agency is taking a new approach to spreading factual information about important mental health topics. "I am so pleased to announce that the DMH/MR has restored its Speaker’s Bureau. Now, organizations needing interesting, engaging and articulate speakers for various occasions can learn more about important personal health, medical and social issues related to mental illness, mental retardation and substance abuse," Sawyer said.

The Coordinator for the DMH/MR Speaker’s Bureau, Ella Bell, looks forward to helping educate Alabamians about the services provided by the department and the persons who receive those services. "The DMH/MR is vitally important to the thousands of Alabamians each year who are served by our extensive network of community providers," Bell said. "I want to encourage church groups, civic organizations and educational groups to consider our speakers for their next event."

Mental illness affects an estimated one in five families in the United States. Dr. David Satcher, Surgeon General of the United States, estimates that one in ten American children have some form of mental illness. "The prevalence of mental illness in our society and the unfortunate stigma that accompanies it can only be directly addressed by timely, factual education. Hopefully, our speakers can help communicate the message that mental illness is a very common, no-fault brain disease that can strike anyone at anytime, regardless of age, gender, race, education level or socioeconomic status," Sawyer said.

The 1990 United States Census estimates that more than 6.2 million Americans have some form of mental retardation. "In the past, patronizing social attitudes towards persons with mental retardation severely limited the role they could play in the community. Now, however, we know persons with mental retardation have many important contributions to make to our society. Our speakers can provide fascinating facts and information about issues like the self-advocacy movement and community living options," Sawyer said.