This report of the National Council on Disability (NCD) examines root causes of the crisis in mental health, specifically the dysfunction of fragmented public systems charged with providing mental health services and supports for children, youth, adults, and senior citizens diagnosed with mental illnesses. Following an introductory chapter, chapter 2 provides background information. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 look specifically on the effect of mental illness and service failures on children and youth, adults, and seniors, respectively. Chapter 6 presents 13 recommendations. For children and youth, these include expanding Medicaid coverage to children and youth with emotional disturbances through the use of waivers and options; preventing exclusion from school of children with emotional disturbances; and using existing entitlement programs to prevent involvement with the juvenile justice system. For adults and seniors, recommendations include providing a legally enforceable right to mental health services and supports and amending insurance laws to end practices that discriminate against persons with mental illness. Chapter 7 offers an inter-generational vision for effective mental health services and supports that focuses on improving access and reducing barriers to needed services and promoting recovery. An appendix presents the mission statement of the NCD. (Contains 71 references.) (DB)