"The time when we can realistically declare war on mental illnesses, with some hope of eventually achieving a victory, has finally come."

- Nancy Andreasen, MD, PHD

declare that now is the time to defeat mental illness. Scientists say that it is possible and are developing the tools. And we say let them use them. We're going on the offensive to defeat mental illness and prevent suicide. We will cure depression and properly diagnose bipolar. We'll make sure our medications do not have any terrible side-effects for our kids with ADD/ADHD. We'll not only find out why a five-year-old develops schizophrenia, but develop an individualized treatment plan for recovery until we are able to prevent the illness from developing in the first place. No longer will one drug or therapy fit all of us. No longer will we be misdiagnosed. No longer will we have to take additional medications to control the terrible side-effects of our other medications.

This is our last hurrah. Now its do or die. Our children deserve America's best effort to transform our mental health system. If we fail statistical trends will continue to worsen, and at least one child will also attempt to end their own lives every minute of every day. But, ,suicide is preventable. Now over 1,000 signatures declare that they will take a stand to defeat mental illness. The time has finally come. The writing is on the wall.

Here are some ways you can enlist in the fight.