State of Mind: America 2004 is The Infinite Mind's third annual examination of the state of the nation's mental health care system, taped before a live audience. This special one-hour public radio broadcast features discussions about the state of the nation's mental health care system, thrilling musical performances from smash Broadway musicals, and groundbreaking research and developments in the treatment of manic-depressive illness. Join host Dr. Goodwin and his guests for this unprecedented program, recorded at New York's historic Radio CIty Music Hall before a live audience of 3,000 public radio listeners.

Joining The Infinite Mind's host Dr. Goodwin on stage at Radio City are:

Actress and writer Carrie Fisher, who will read from and discuss her newest novel, “The Best Awful.”

A. Kathryn Power, Director, U.S. Center for Mental Health Services. Ms. Power is charged with transforming our nation’s system of mental health care and putting into action the recommendations of the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.

Robert Post, M.D., Chief, Biological Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health. His work on the “kindling model” of bipolar disorder is widely recognized as a foundation of current understanding and treatment of the illness.

Dominic Lam, Ph.D., Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College, London, who pioneered research into the use of cognitive techniques to help bipolar patients identify the early signs of potential relapses and improve their quality of life.

Stephan Heckers, M.D., Director, Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts.

And special commentary from The Infinite Mind’s John Hockenberry.

Special performances by the casts of the hit Broadway shows performing "The Musical Mind on Broadway":

Wicked: (10 Tony Award nominations and named "Best Musical on Broadway" by Time Magazine). "The Wizard and I" performed by Eden Espinosa (as "Elphaba," the Wicked Witch of the West.)

Avenue Q (2004 Tony Award winner "Best Musical") "Schadenfreude," performed by Natalie Venetia Belcon, (Gary Coleman), Rick Lyon,
(Nicky) and Jennifer Barnhart (Nicky).

Highlighted on State of Mind: America 2004 will be the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health report, released in July 2003. The report, the most significant Presidential initiative in 50 years, aims to transform health care for those with mental illness through the implementation of six goals:

o Americans understand that mental health is essential to overall health, with mental illness and physical illness being treated equally.
o Mental health is consumer and family driven, with people affected and their families having greater control of their health care.
o Disparities in mental health services be eliminated, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities.
o Early mental health screening, assessment, and referral to services be common practice to assist proper diagnosis and treatment of young people.
o Excellent mental health care is delivered and research is accelerated in order to close the gap, currently as much as seven years, between scientific research and new medical treatments.
o Technology is used to access mental health care and information, allowing Internet technology to make mental information and care more widely available to all Americans.