Moonshot for Mental Health!
Please Act Now to support a “Moonshot for Mental Health” movement requesting more funding for research into the biological, genetic, and epigenetic causes of mental health conditions and suicide. Mental health research is disproportionately under-funded in comparison to research endeavors for conditions which are deemed as ‘physical’.
Due to dedicated research, we now have effective treatments for heart disease, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, and many other conditions and diseases considered to be 'physical'. However, we have left out the one organ that controls all of the other organs. This is the brain. I'm not speaking of brain tumors or strokes. I'm speaking of something far more elusive; the brain's role in serious mental health conditions.
There has been much discussion about situational and environmental causes for mental health conditions. There has also been a focus on treatments which, quite often, are not very effective. However, there hasn't been much discussion on finding the biological 'root' causes for these conditions. Even though there have been advances made in genetic and epigenetic research focused on mental health, very little funding is earmarked for the discovery of the molecular and biological factors that cause these conditions.
In recent years, transformational discoveries have been made in identifying the potential biomarkers that predispose an individual to mental health conditions and suicidal behaviors. With this knowledge, we need to accelerate biological, genetic, and epigenetic research for early diagnosis of serious mental health conditions, thus allowing researchers to develop novel targeted curative therapies based on the molecular causes of these these conditions, which we view as brain diseases.
In order to accomplish these goals, far more funding is necessary for research. We must have a Moonshot for Mental Health, like we did for cancer over 50 years ago! Think of the advances we have made in cancer treatments. Isn't it way past time to do the same for brain disease?
Several of us have formed the 'Cure Brain Disease' coalition whose mission is to advocate for increased funding for curing brain diseases utilizing cutting edge genetic and epigenetic research. Our coalition is composed of research scientists, medical professionals, counselors, teachers, military personnel, and those whose lives have been touched by brain diseases. You are invited to visit our website as well as two of our members' non-profit organization websites.
Cure Brain Disease https://www.curementalhealthdisease.com
Walt's Waltz https://www.waltswaltz.com
CHCF Brain https://www.chcfbrain.org
Finally, it is essential that we have equitable funding for mental health research so we may finally identify the root causes of brain diseases, and by doing so, develop curative therapies to prevent these diseases from advancing to debilitating and life threatening levels. Help the children before it is too late.
Please help by signing this petition to increase funding for research into the biological, genetic, and epigenetic causes of serious mental heath conditions (brain diseases)!
***** We will send the petition to key members of Congress who are in positions to make this change. *****
Thank you!
CureBrainDisease Coalition
