New Members Appointed to Center for Mental Health Services National Advisory Council

SAMHSA Search

Contact Media Services: (240) 276-2130

Date: 7/26/2007
Media Contact: SAMHSA Press Office
Telephone: 240-276-2130

New Members Appointed to Center for Mental Health Services National Advisory Council

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) announced the appointment of four new members to their Advisory Council at this summer’s National Advisory Council meeting held in Rockville, MD on July 25 and 26. They include a veteran mental health advocate, an Academy Award-winning actress, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, and an expert in managed mental health care policy and mental health systems.

SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline, Ph.D, explained that "These individuals bring wide-ranging experience and unique perspectives and will enrich our discussions as we address the latest challenges in mental health."

The new Advisory Council members include:

King Davis, Ph.D. is currently the Executive Director of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, which promotes improved mental health for the people of Texas through the support of effective mental health services, research, policies and education.

Ledro R. Justice, M.D., an expert in child and adolescent psychiatry, has been practicing general psychiatry for more than 30 years, and child and adolescent psychiatry for about 10 years. With experience in academia, the military, and several private facilities, he is currently a consultant with West Moreton Child and Youth Mental Health Services, in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

James P. McNulty currently serves as the Coordinator for the Office of Consumer and Family Affairs for the Division of Behavioral Health in Rhode Island’s Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals. Prior to this, he was CEO of a mental health advocacy organization and has been extensively involved in volunteer advocacy in the field of mental illness.

Anna Patty Duke Pearce, an Academy Award-winning actress, has availed herself of public forums such as the The Larry King Show, Oprah, the Today Show and NPR radio to speak about the hope and possibility of recovery and overcoming the challenge of stigma common among individuals living with mental illness. Ms. Pearce travels the country as an advocate, participating in fundraisers and speaking out to the public about mental health. Currently, Ms. Pearce spearheads the On-line Center for Mental Wellness Web site – a virtual place for people to share their stories, receive useful information and obtain referrals for mental health services.

The Council, which was established in 1992, meets twice yearly and advises, consults with and makes recommendations to the leadership of CMHS, SAMHSA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding activities and policies carried out by CMHS.

CMHS Director A. Kathryn Power, M.Ed., is the Advisory Council chairperson. Ex-officio members are Michael O. Leavitt, secretary of Department of Health and Human Services; Terry Cline, Ph.D., administrator of SAMHSA; and William W. Van Stone, M.D., associate chief consultant of the Mental Health Strategic Healthcare Group at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment, and mental health services delivery system.

Page Last Updated: 7/26/2007