Foundation Leaders Discuss Early Intervention for Mental Illness Following Sandy Hook Tragedy

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation offers heartfelt condolences for all who suffered tragic losses in Connecticut. Our Scientific Council members and leadership are being called on to discuss both the emotional toll of the recent tragedy as well as possible causes and preventions.

“As a psychiatrist and more importantly a parent, my heart goes out to the families who have experienced the recent tragedy in Connecticut,” says Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Chief Medical Officer Jeff Borenstein, M.D. “As the nation focuses on the importance of mental health, our Foundation will work to increase support of scientific research to expand knowledge of mental illness and develop better diagnostic tools and treatments, working ultimately toward prevention and cures.”

Raising or maintaining funding for mental health research of any kind—public or private—is challenging, and more so in unpredictable economic times. “New, welcomed voices are entering what is really an international conversation and urging that issues of mental health be discussed more openly and intentionally. The research side must be part of that equation; scientific advances bring hope,” says Benita Shobe, President & CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. “Each year our Scientific Council reviews grant applications and selects the most promising avenues of brain research to accelerate discoveries and advance treatments.” This is only possible with the support of public contributions. Details on Foundation granting programs and ways to support the Foundation and learn more about the latest discoveries are available at bbrfoundation.org.

Last night on WVON 1690AM "The Talk of Chicago!", Dr. Borenstein was a guest on “The People's Show with Mark Wallace.” “We need to learn how to help people so it doesn’t get down to this kind of tragedy…With appropriate resources put into research we may be able to understand how these illnesses occur and how to prevent and cure them.” In addition, Scientific Council member Jeffrey A. Lieberman, M.D., Lawrence C. Kolb Professor and Chairman of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center, appeared on yesterday’s Charlie Rose and gave two interviews to CBS This Morning (TV segment and Web segment). On CBS This Morning Dr. Lieberman spoke of the need to be more proactive in developing reliable early intervention techniques and diagnostic tools.