Op-ed

America is about to take a big step toward better health care.

Beginning on July 16th, anyone in America, anywhere in America, can dial just three digits–988–to get free, confidential, and immediate help for a mental health emergency.

Now the two of us might make an odd pair teaming up to talk about mental health:

"On paper the Russians have every advantage. A million more soldiers in uniform, more than 10 times the military budget, 10 times the aircraft, six times the tanks. But a much smaller Ukrainian force resolutely repelled Russia’s attack on and around Kyiv and it continues to stymie Russian forces with small infantry units equipped with modern weapons, the latest training, the best intelligence and the courage of troops fighting for freedom.

Everyone is asking me the same question: Should schools reopen? Actually, the data on this is pretty clear: Yes, kids across the board do better in school. But the question we really should be asking is this: What will we do when one kid in school —even just one — tests positive? Nobody seems to have an answer.

It’s the age-old adage attributed to the great World War II general Omar Bradley: “Amateurs talk strategy. Professionals talk logistics.” Getting kids in school may be the right strategy, but let’s spend a few minutes talking logistics.

Over the last week, a debate about when to reopen our country has begun in earnest. If we reopen too soon, we’ll lose the progress we’ve gained by social distancing, see a new spike in cases that overwhelms our hospital system, and inject even more uncertainty into an economy that’s buckling under the weight of the worst pandemic in a century. If we wait too long, we’ll cause more economic harm than necessary to combat the virus and more Americans will die from that fallout as well; death rates always go up due to prolonged economic hardship.

When our leaders have failed in crises, America has been at its best when we focus on what we can do rather than who we can blame.

As we entered World War II, the Greatest Generation didn't argue over whose fault it was that the military only had 3,000 planes -- they built 300,000 more. When the Bush administration bungled its response to Hurricane Katrina, millions stepped up to become unofficial first responders, food suppliers -- even caretakers for children separated from their families.

In times of crisis, leaders must communicate honestly, prepare aggressively, act decisively and ensure results.

Leaders who do this will dispel uncertainty and fear. They will inspire trust and confidence.

As a Harvard physics student, I got to learn from some of the smartest minds on earth. My professors were also good people, and the department has a proud history both of great discovery and great service. Harvard physicists helped America win World War II, and then establish the ethical code around nuclear physics that helped keep the peace in the Cold War to follow.

In Iraq, I learned there are two types of courage: physical courage and moral courage. Moral courage was often the hardest to find.