Finale Speech of Our Eminent Mental Health Panel

Psychologist Drew Westen Speaks of a Political Moment that Tries Our Souls

Now is the finale of our eminent mental health panel, convening in unprecedented ways with our eminent national security panel at the National Press Club on September 27, 2024, to discuss the most critical matter of our day: the mental unfitness of one of our presidential candidates and the danger he poses to our nation and all humankind.

Dr. Drew Westen is a renowned professor of psychology and psychiatry at Emory University and author of The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation.

Here is his full speech:

Here is the link to the playlist of panelists’ full speeches:

The More Dangerous State of the World and the Need for Fit Leadership Full Speeches

Here is the link for the Conference summary video:

The More Dangerous State of the World and the Need for Fit Leadership Summary Video

Here is the link to the book that was released with the Conference:

The More Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 40 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Warn Anew

Here are the links to my Weekend Show appearances:

Top Psychiatrist BACK with NEW FINDINGS on Trump Mental Collapse

Top Psych DIAGNOSES Trump’s Latest Public COLLAPSE

Trump MENTAL COLLAPSE Accelerates as Campaign FAILS (extra appearance with Michael Cohen)

TOP Psychiatrist BACK with NEW Diagnosis of Trump AFTER Debate

Top Psych Gives URGENT UPDATE on Trump MENTAL SPIRAL

TOP Psychiatrist BACK with MAJOR UPDATE on Trump Mental Collapse

Top Psychiatrist gives URGENT Update on Trump’s MENTAL BREAKDOWN

I also have a YouTube playlist on Trump Contagion:

The Psychology of Trump Contagion ... and an Opportunity for Healing

Thanks again to your generous donations, we were able to pull off an historic Conference! Our fundraising campaign to make possible our reach of millions of Americans and our growing impact with the Conference results is still underway, and critical in these days before the election.

Also, as we are doing our best to get our National Press Club Conference Statement known, we are also putting together a joint statement on Donald Trump’s cognitive unfitness—by the urging of a big donor, who would like to take out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal! The target is to bring together fifty renowned geriatricians, neurologists, and forensic psychiatrists to sign our statement. While the statement is circulating among a select group, the principal authors have composed the following summary:

DONALD TRUMP IS UNFIT TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT

In what is predicted to be one of the closest elections in our country’s history, Americans are headed to the polls to elect either Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump.

Level-headed thinking and decision making in our leaders is imperative to our nation’s health and success. The United States requires a President with the cognitive health and capability to lead our nation forward on all matters, both domestic and foreign.

As medical professionals with expertise in geriatrics, cognitive health, and mental fitness, we do not have confidence in Donald J. Trump to return as Commander in Chief.

Beyond politics, beyond policies, beyond rhetoric—what we have observed across his public appearances suggest a decline in cognitive functioning that aligns with the signs and symptoms of dementia.

We have all witnessed the former President’s concerning behaviors. These include:

Deterioration in language skills, such as simpler vocabulary, grammatical errors, and substituting wrong words; impaired memory, where memory gaps are filled with false or fabricated details; tangential thinking, where speech drifts to unrelated topics in an erratic manner.

Inappropriate or vague statements that lack connection to reality; repetition, where thoughts or ideas are repeated for no reason; rigid thinking, evidenced by an inability to adapt or revise opinions when facts change; worsening of abnormal personality traits, such as paranoid, narcissistic (everything is about me), antisocial, and psychopathic traits.

Loss of inhibition in speech and behavior, such as the frequent use of vulgar, profane language, impulsive decision making, and threats and incitement of aggression and violence.

These behaviors, particularly problems with memory, word finding, and ability to focus while they are not uncommon in men and women Mr. Trump’s age, 78—are disqualifying for a candidate for President of the United States.

In July, public concerns over his cognitive faculties following the first debate against Mr. Trump compelled President Biden to suspend his re-election bid. Similar concerns over Mr. Trump’s mental acuity require the same level of public consideration.

The earned title of President requires public trust in the capacity of the candidate to think clearly, to tolerate complexity, and to weigh the pros and cons of multiple options, always placing the needs and well-being of the American people ahead of his own. Mr. Trump fails to meet these basic requirements for President of the United States.

Americans deserve to know the facts in this critical election.

Diane E. Meier, M.D.
Professor of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

James R. Merikangas, M.D.
Neuropsychiatrist and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry
George Washington University School of Medicine

Bandy X. Lee, M.D., M.Div.
President, World Mental Health Coalition
Harvard Program in Psychiatry and the Law

Announcement:

Dr. Bandy X. Lee is inviting you to a live session in a series: