A group of mental health agencies will hold six public forums across Iowa in the next few weeks to discuss a variety of mental health issues. Dr. Michael Flaum is director of the Iowa Consortium for Mental Health which is co-sponsoring the round table talks. He says the goal is to get the system and care in Iowa as good as they can get it.A Surgeon General’s report says about one in five Americans are affected by mental disorders –in some form– every year. Dr. Flaum, who is a psychiatrist at the University of Iowa, says his panel wants to hear perspectives from Iowans about the current mental health system.Dr. Flaum says feedback from the discussions will be prepared in report form and given to Iowa policymakers to help them in considering reforms to the state’s mental health system.The first meeting is next Monday, August 20th, in Cedar Falls. Other round table talks are planned for: August 21st in Cedar Rapids, August 23rd in Des Moines, August 28th in Council Bluffs and Emmetsburg and August 30th in Mount Pleasant. For more information, call 515-243-2000.