The people of this country desperately need to engage in an open and honest debate about mental health.

I'm convinced that we can shape a different future for this country as it relates to mental health and as it relates to suicide.

Many people believe that dealing with overweight and obesity is a personal responsibility. To some degree they are right, but it is also a community responsibility. When there are no safe, accessible places for children to play or adults to walk, jog, or ride a bike, that is a community responsibility.

There is no health without mental health.

Otis Brawley is one of America's truly outstanding physician scientists. In How We Do Harm, he challenges all of us-- physicians, patients, and communities-- to recommit ourselves to the pledge to 'do no harm.'

The people of this country desperately need to engage in an open and honest debate about mental health.

The same things that lead to disparities in health in this country on a day-to-day basis led to disparities in the impact of Hurricane Katrina.