The Commission's real mission ... action

We commend Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leroy R. Hassell Sr. for launching a new Commission tomorrow that will look at Virginia's laws for mental health treatment.

He has the right vision and the right mission - to actually see change take place.

However, as TAC executive director Mary Zdanowicz said in today's Washington Post, there have been many commissions and reports in the past. "Something needs to be done now," she said, and we think the power of this Commission is that the Chief Justice agrees.

Finding real ways to help people lost to symptoms of untreated mental illness is a commendable goal. Acting on those answers is where too many commissions and blue-ribbon panels fall down on the job. We believe this one will be different. We hope we are right.