November 3, 2000
To the Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers:
I am writing to express the National Mental Health
Association’s (NMHA) support of RegistryPro’s application for the .pro TLD.
As
the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of
mental health and mental illness, NMHA works to ensure that individuals have the
information they need to make informed choices about their mental healthcare.
Since most of the 70 million people searching for health information online are seeking
resources on depression and other mental illnesses, we are concerned about the credibility
of mental health information online.
As a result, we support any efforts
to improve the reliability and accessibility of online sources and believe that the
.pro TLD will assist in these efforts. By providing a domain for health professionals,
RegistryPro can offer consumers an easier way to navigate the Internet and find a
health care provider that best meets their needs. In addition, we are very
interested in collaborating with RegistryPro to extend the .pro TLD specifically
to mental health professionals with a mh.pro designation to improve access to care
and further reduce stigma.
NMHA looks forward to working with RegistryPro
on the new registry.
James A. Radack
Senior Director, Communications
National
Mental Health Association