Whereas the mental health and well-being of people in the United States is a vital issue that affects not only quality of life, but also the health of communities, families, and economic stability; Whereas individuals with mental health conditions and other behavioral health disorders can and do recover with clinical treatment and social supports, including medications, psychotherapies, psychosocial rehabilitation, and peer support; Whereas recovery begins with self-direct care, and parents, families, and caregivers are allies in recovery and serve as critical members of the care delivery team; Whereas advances in brain science and behavioral research show significant promise for continued improvements in effective treatments of mental illness; Whereas the increasing diversity of our country underlies both the need and importance of accessing culturally and linguistically appropriate services; Whereas an estimated 44.7 million adults in the United States experience mental illness; Whereas approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents has a diagnosable mental disorder at any one point in time, and 50 percent of all mental disorders begin by age 14 and 75 percent by age 24; Whereas 65 to 70 percent of youth in contact with the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health disorder; Whereas an estimated 10.4 million adults in the United States experience conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression; Whereas millions of adults in the United States with a diagnosis of serious mental illness do not receive treatment; Whereas post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) impacts 14 to 24 percent of servicemembers and veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; Whereas roughly 20 to 50 percent of all prison and jail inmates are diagnosed with a mental illness; Whereas mental illness is the leading cause of disability in the Nation