This appointee would work closely with the office of the surgeon general and related agencies of the government. The position could be filled by a nominee of the president from any of the fields of mental health such as psychology, research, social work, or psychiatry. His/her expertise should be in the psychological rather than the medical approaches to public mental health care. One goal would be to reduce over medication and increase the use of effective psychological remedies, with the understanding that psychology and medicine can be mutually supportive.
Dr. Schneider states, "A psychologist general at the forefront of mental health research and delivery would send a strong message that psychological well-being is prized on a par with physical health" (p. 12). He even more strongly asserted, "The time is ripe for a psychologist general. It is both economically warranted and morally imperative" (p. 12).
REFERENCE
Schneider, K. J. (2019). The U.S. needs a mental health czar. Scientific American, 321(5), p. 12.