NDMDA to Open Office in Washington, DC

The National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association
(NDMDA) will soon have a more powerful foothold from which
to lobby and educate the nation's policymakers.

NDMDA could as early as this week open an office in the
nation's capitol, according to Susan Dime-Meenan, NDMDA
executive director.  The office will include about six
government relations and public relations staff, she said.

NDMDA will officially launch its presence with a week of
congressional activities Feb 6 - 10.  An official presence
in Washington will bring greater stability to the
organization's national advocacy role, Meenan told MHR.

Public relations and advocacy work can be better conducted
in Washington, DC than from the association's Chicago
headquarters, Meenan said.  "You need to be available {to
policymakers} on a minute's notice."

Heretofore, Meenan has commuted to DC herself, spending
about two weeks a month acting as a patient spokesperson,
lobbyist and coalition builder.  With 65,000 members, NDMDA
is the nation's largest patient advocacy group.

Mental Health Report, Nov 29, 1994, p 192