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David Satcher, MD, PhD; Sharon Friel, PhD; Ruth Bell, PhD

JAMA. 2007;298(21):2540-2542.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Mental health is defined as the successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships, the ability to adapt to change, and successful coping with adversity.¹ Among the findings reported in the US surgeon general's mental health report are that mental disorders are common but treatable and that stigmatization, poor material circumstances, and lack of access are major barriers to successful treatment of mental disorders.

Mental health is an issue of global importance. An estimated 450 million people worldwide have mental or behavioral disorders, accounting for 12% of the global disease burden.² Worldwide, 40% of countries have no mental health policy, and for the majority of countries, mental health budgets constitute less than 5% of total health expenditures.² As is the case for many health conditions, there are disparities in mental health between groups defined socially, economically, geographically, . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Natural Disasters

Author Affiliations: Center of Excellence on Health Disparities, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia (Dr Satcher) and Commission on Social Determinants of Health (Dr Friel), Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (Drs Friel and Bell), University College London, London, England.