Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy Launches Mental Health Center

As a member of the nation’s most prominent political family, Patrick Kennedy has enjoyed the privileges that come with wealth and recognition. But Patrick Kennedy is also familiar with the pain and stigma felt by families across the nation dealing with mental illness. Patrick Kennedy is bipolar, and a recovering alcoholic, a condition that came to national attention after an early morning accident in Washington, D.C. in May of 2006 when he served in Congress. Now out of politics, Patrick Kennedy is devoting his attention to mental health, and has formed the Kennedy Center for Mental Health Policy and Research in Washington, in partnership with former Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher and Morehouse College. Kennedy says one of the goals is to end the stigma of mental health.