I want to commend Bob Gorman's outstanding column "NNY's bold initiative to overcome a growing medical crisis" (Sunday Weekly Aug. 17). He thoughtfully describes trends that are unique in our history and all playing out in the north country: a major military installation that relies on community health care, a war that by its nature magnifies the risk of behavioral health challenges for both soldiers and families, and unique partnerships that are starting to make it work.

We have a history of military conflicts transforming our understanding of mental health. World War ll revealed a surprising number of potential soldiers unfit to serve because of mental health problems; today we know from science that one in five Americans will experience an episode of mental illness in a year, but we still don't behave as if mental health is a big issue. World War II also taught us about resolving mental health crises: Treatment and support that is immediate and close to where you are is more effective.

Now we have a conflict that produces unbelievable stresses because of multiple deployments and the close, violent and unpredictable nature of the conflict. We are learning that behavioral health problems will come to represent the leading health challenges of this war, and that tragically there may ultimately be more lives lost to suicide than to immediate combat death. This also conforms to what science has proven but is mostly ignored: mental illness costs this country more than cancer. The armed forces and the Veterans Administration have been rightly criticized for an inadequate and late response to mental health challenges. However, it is also true that the prevention, support and treatment now provided in the Army and particularly at Fort Drum represents a state-of-the-art approach to mental health, and a model for other organizations under stress.

At the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), we are pleased to be assisting in these challenges. We have been working with the military, state and federal agencies, local mental health providers and military families, to help mental health providers provide high-quality services in a way that is supportive of military families. OMH has committed over $370,000 to increase clinic capacity, support targeted outreach to military families and expand family support and case management services in the north country. Now a part of the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, the behavioral health care group recently formed a subcommittee focused specifically on the needs of children of military families. We have a way to go, but our shared goal is to have accessible, competent and welcoming support anywhere in New York for soldiers, veterans and their families who need some support.

To assist in this effort, a National Policy Academy coordinated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs was held just the week before last in Bethesda, Md., to develop comprehensive strategies for states to assist soldiers as they return from war and to support their families throughout. New York was one of only 10 states selected to send a team to this event. The team, under the leadership of Jim McDonough, state Veterans Affairs director, and Tom Nightingale of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, has come back with a practical plan that will be implemented.

I also applaud Col. Jerry Penner for his leadership to improve access to mental health services both on and off base. I especially appreciate his efforts to confront and reduce the stigma that too often keeps us from seeking help for a mental health problem. We now understand that stress, anxiety and depression can be normal reactions to abnormal situations. Our brains were simply not built to cope easily with traumatic events — even though the majority of us, especially our soldiers, cope remarkably well. We also now understand that treatment in most cases can heal mental wounds as well as physical ones. Maybe as a society we will learn this better from the leadership and courage of our soldiers. And maybe, with the example of the north country, we will learn that communities can respond effectively to these challenges ... but only when commitment and leadership are involved.

Thank you for an excellent article on topics of great importance — not just for the north country, but for the nation.

Michael F. Hogan

Albany

The writer is commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health.