About the American Mental Health Foundation

The American Mental Health Foundation has a rich history and a bright future. AMHF is a research organization dedicated to the welfare of people suffering from emotional problems, especially the disabled and elders. Our Vision: Building A More Compassionate Society. AMHF is vitally interested in reaching the greatest possible number of people with its mission, at present through its publishing arm, American Mental Health Foundation Books; through the two acclaimed volumes prepared by long-time director of research the late Dr. Stefan de Schill—both books available on its website in English, French, German—as well as Dr. de Schill’s lifework Crucial Choices—Crucial Changes; and in 2012 via a program informed by educational seminars and workshops, with planned outreach to the communities of the disabled and elders to address the special emotional issues of these populations. From its founding Mission Statement of 1924…

The object of this Association is to promote, advance, promulgate, perform or carry out, enter into, cultivate, establish and organize scientific research and studies in the field of mental health, psychology, psychoanalysis and related domains; and to organize work groups and seminars for staff members to engage in other educational work.

Celebrating more than 85 years of excellence devoted to mental health research

Dr. Stefan de Schill, long-time AMHF Director of Research, photographed in Vienna circa 1938

“There are three basic factors in daily existence that are utterly incomprehensible to us: time, because it is eternal; space, because it is infinite; and our consciousness, because it defies all explanation.”

-Dr. Stefan de Schill

• At least fifty percent of all people seeking medical treatment are suffering from emotional disturbances, but only three cents of every medical dollar is spent on emotional illness.
• “The anxiety and problems other people suffer when caught up in a major crisis, we have to face day by day.”—a patient
• Twenty-seven million Americans will be victims of emotional breakdown and spend at least part of their lives in an institution.
• Less than two percent of those suffering from deep-rooted emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, and phobias will ever obtain competent professional help bringing about lasting results.

AMHF Board of Directors 2012

• Sister Joan Curtin, CND, is director of the Catechetical Office of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. A graduate of Saint Jean Baptiste High School, she received her BA in English from Notre Dame College, an MA in Religion from Manhattanville College, and holds certificates both in Spirituality and Spiritual Direction. Sister has served on the board of the National Catholic Education Association and currently is on the boards of the American Bible Society, the Catholic Education Institute, and the Museum of Biblical Art.
• John P. Fowler (chairman & treasurer) is the publisher of National Review, an influential magazine of political opinion, with which he has been associated for thirty years. An alumnus of Regis High School in New York City and The College of the Holy Cross, he also has served on the Milford, Connecticut, Board of Aldermen and was the Republican Town Committee Chairman.
• Eugene Gollogly (vice president) has been an international book-publishing executive for forty years. He is presently CEO of Lantern Books as well as SteinerBooks. He has a degree from The London School of Economics.
• Evander Lomke (president & executive director) is a former publishing executive, acquiring or editing more than 1,200 books by authors as diverse as David Bianculli, Donald Bogle, William F. Buckley Jr., George W. Bush, Lucy Freeman, Paulo Freire, and Erich Fromm. He is an alumnus of The Bronx High School of Science, CCNY, and The University of Toronto.
• Thea Lucas (secretary) was a long-time executive of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Currently retired, she has a law degree from Utrecht University.
• Monroe W. Spero, M.D., (member emeritus), was in private psychiatric practice in New York City for many years. He has degrees from several institutions, including Yale University. He has studied in Geneva, Paris, and Central America.
• William Van Ornum, Ph.D., FAPA, is a NYS-licensed psychologist, author, and professor of psychology, Marist College. He is a graduate of DePaul University, magna cum laude in psychology, theology, mathematics, and physics; a Danforth Fellowship Nominee; a doctor of clinical psychology, Loyola University; and has been honored with membership in The Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and Malta, American Association.

AMHF Professional Advisory Board 2012

• Dr. Pamela Alexander
• Dr. Joanne H. Gavin
• Ms. Janice E. Johnson
• Dr. Gregory K. Popcak
• Dr. James Campbell Quick
• Dr. Norman Reed
• Dr. Milton F. Shore
• Dr. Jeanine Skorinko

To learn more about the history of AMHF, click here.