Field remembers Senator Kennedy as friend to the mental health community.(Report)

Mental health leaders and advocates lamented a deep sense of personal loss over the passing last week of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) following his long battle with brain cancer, saying his death leaves a tremendous void not just for the country, but also for the mental health and disability communities.

Kennedy will always be remembered for his leadership and support for the passage of the landmark Paul Wellstone-Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. His son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), was also a staunch supporter of that effort.

Senator Kennedy also sponsored and supported such successful initiatives as the community mental health program, the children's system of care program, and many additional pieces of legislation that produced federal programs to treat and serve people with mental illnesses.

Advocates hope that in the wake of his passing, a national health reform bill will prevail and that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will come to some kind of agreement when Congress resumes on September 8. In fact, Democrats are hoping that the senator's passion for health reform will spark increased support for an issue that …