Thomas Daschle: “this past Saturday, thousands of people in Sioux Falls, SD, and 35 other cities across America, took part in walks to…”

“this past Saturday, thousands of people in Sioux Falls, SD, and 35 other cities across America, took part in walks to raise public awareness of mental health. The walks were sponsored by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. In Sioux Falls, more than 300 people dodged rain showers to walk through Falls Park. They were different ages, with different backgrounds. But most shared at least one important distinction: They, or someone close to them, has a mental illness. The same is true of nearly all Americans. A 1999 report by the Surgeon General found that more than 50 million Americans--one in five--suffer from mental illness each year. Many Members of this Senate--Republicans and Democrats--have spoken bravely and movingly about how mental illness has devastated their own parents, children or siblings. No Senator who is with us today has demonstrated greater leadership on issues involving mental health than our distinguished colleague from New Mexico, Senator Domenici. He knows--from watching a daughter he loves very much struggle with schizophrenia--that mental illnesses don't affect just one person; they affect whole families. Senator Domenici also knows about the stigma attached to mental illness, and the discrimination and suffering that people with mental health problems suffer as a result of that stigma.”