Stan

And certainly, based on some of the information that our great staff have provided here, mental health issues more than likely will lead into other health-related issues. So it's like they go hand in hand here. And it's like, all right, what's going on? All right, so here's... Before I get out, you know, for the listening audience, I'll give some of these statistics that we're seeing lately.

I mean, and I'm sure this has even gotten worse during COVID, for instance. But all right, Mike, I really need an opinion from you. If you had a magical wand in your hand right now, where would you focus mental health, policy out of the gate. I mean, based on your professional experience, what would you really like to see really move? Call it a priority from your perspective.

I mean, and I'm sure this has even gotten worse during COVID, for instance. But all right, Mike, I really need an opinion from you. If you had a magical wand in your hand right now, where would you focus mental health, policy out of the gate. I mean, based on your professional experience, what would you really like to see really move? Call it a priority from your perspective.

Dermatology.

Dermatology.

Exactly. So let me ask you, you know, your dear colleague, Nico Prank was, you know, the co-chair of the, of Healthy People 2030, the objectives for the nation. Okay. So I don't know if you're, you're familiar. I know I'm not off the top of my head, but you know, from the mental health standpoint I'm, I believe they at least touched on this idea of parity.

Exactly. So let me ask you, you know, your dear colleague, Nico Prank was, you know, the co-chair of the, of Healthy People 2030, the objectives for the nation. Okay. So I don't know if you're, you're familiar. I know I'm not off the top of my head, but you know, from the mental health standpoint I'm, I believe they at least touched on this idea of parity.

Okay, but even still, an objective for the nation by 2030, you know, my feeling is can we wait that long? And I really don't think we can. I think we've got to get our acts together and get moving.

Okay, but even still, an objective for the nation by 2030, you know, my feeling is can we wait that long? And I really don't think we can. I think we've got to get our acts together and get moving.

Exactly.

Exactly.

Exactly.

Exactly.

You know, I'll be honest with you. This is kind of where, you know, it's very, very complicated. There's a gazillion variables, as you noted earlier, Mike. But Here's the bottom line, as far as I'm concerned, somebody presents themselves desperately needing help. Okay, if they're able to even get to that point, desperately needing help with some mental health disorder, it's like,

You know, I'll be honest with you. This is kind of where, you know, it's very, very complicated. There's a gazillion variables, as you noted earlier, Mike. But Here's the bottom line, as far as I'm concerned, somebody presents themselves desperately needing help. Okay, if they're able to even get to that point, desperately needing help with some mental health disorder, it's like,

When they're in that state, I can only imagine that they don't care about all this other stuff, the research, and they don't care about the numbers. I need help now.

When they're in that state, I can only imagine that they don't care about all this other stuff, the research, and they don't care about the numbers. I need help now.

Exactly, exactly. And it's like, what the heck? Why is the system so unnecessarily burdensome and broken? to the point whereby that person cannot get help.

Exactly, exactly. And it's like, what the heck? Why is the system so unnecessarily burdensome and broken? to the point whereby that person cannot get help.

I tend to agree. I mean, you know, some of the numbers here, this is insane. 2019, nearly a billion, this is worldwide now, nearly a billion people, including 14% of the world's adolescents were living with a mental disorder. This is insane. This is unconscionable, I believe.