Two basic issues in mental health are how tax monies and resources are being allocated and how the resources are being spent. More could be spent in the area of mental health prevention rather than in treatment. Prevention is action that prevents significant diminishment of function, or the development of organic disability, as a result of mental-emotional disturbance. Federal health dollars are currently being spent in an illogical way. Statistics suggest that the federal health authorities are not utilizing a process which results in realistic and effective targeting of resources to the problems. The highest and most pressing health priority should be to determine and acknowledge what causes disability and premature death, and what accounts for nonproductivity, and then to allocate resources to alleviate these problems. (Author/BMW)