882
Short title.
PUBLIC LAW 182-JULY 28, 1955
[69 S T A T.
Whereas mental illness is frequently a component of sucii nationwide problems as alcoholism, drug addiction, juvenile delinquency, broken homes, school failures, absenteeism, and job madjustment in industry, suicide, and similar problems; and Whereas there seems to be no overall integrated body of knowledge concerning all aspects of the present status of our resources, methods, and practices for diagnosing, treating, caring for, and rehabilitating the mentally ill, although only through the development of such a body of knowledge can the people of the United States ascertain the true nature of this staggering problem and develop more effective plans to meet i t: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this joint resolution may be cited as the "Mental Health Study Act of 1955". STATEMENT O F PURPOSES A N D P O L I C Y
SEC. 2. (a) I t is the sense of the Congress that there exists a critical need for such, an objective, thorough, and nationwide analysis and reevaluation of the human and economic problems of mental illness and of the resources, methods, and practices currently utilized in diagnosing, treating, caring for, and rehabilitating the mentally ill, both within and outside of institutions, as may lead to the development of comprehensive and realistic recommendations for such better utilization of those resources or such improvements on and new developments in methods of diagnosis, treatment, care, and rehabilitation as give promise of resulting in a marked reduction in the incidence or duration of mental illness and, in consequence, a lessening of the appalling emotional and financial drain on the families of those afflicted or on the economic resources of the States and of the Nation. (b) I t is declared to be the policy of the Congress to promote mental health and to help solve the complex and the interrelated problems posed by mental illness by encouraging the undertaking of nongovernmental, multidisciplinary research into and reevaluation of all aspects of our resources, methods, and practices for diagnosing, treating, caring for, and rehabilitating the mentally ill, including research aimed at the prevention of mental illness. I t is the purpose of this joint resolution to implement that policy. SPECIAL P R O J E C T GRANTS FOR C O M P R E H E N S IV E M E N T A L H E A L T H
JO stau ^lli
STUDY
SEC. 3. Part A of title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended by adding after section 303 the following new section: " G R A N T S FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS I N
MENTAL
HEALTH
"SEC. 304. (a)(1) The Surgeon General is authorized, upon the recommendation of the National Advisory Mental Health Council, to make grants for the carrying out of a program of research into and study of our resources, methods, and practices for diagnosing, treating, caring for, and rehabilitating the mentally ill, such program to be on a scale commensurate with the problem. "(2) Such grants may be made to one or more organizations, but only on condition that the organization will undertake and conduct, or if more than one organization is to receive such grants, only on condition that such organizations have agreed among themselves to undertake and conduct, a coordinated program of research into and study of all aspects of the resources, methods, and practices referred to in paragraph (1).
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