Welcome Back Awards Recognize Outstanding Contributions in the Fight Against Depression

Honorees Receive $10,000 to $15,000 Each to Donate to a Nonprofit of Their Choice

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Feb 28, 2012, 08:30 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Five individuals will be recognized for outstanding achievements in the fight against depression at the 13th annual Welcome Back Awards ceremony on February 29 in Washington, D.C. Since 1998, the Welcome Back Awards have helped to promote awareness that depression — an all too often misunderstood illness — is real, common and treatable.

Mood disorders, including depression, affect nearly one in 10 U.S. adults in a given year.(1) "Depression can be a debilitating illness but the Welcome Back Awards honorees have demonstrated that recovery is possible; they provide hope to thousands of others and we salute their courage and achievements," said Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare.

Welcome Back Awards honorees are chosen by an independent panel of national mental health leaders. Donations ranging between $10,000 and $15,000 are made to the not-for-profit organization of each winner's choice.

The following honorees of the 13th annual Welcome Back Awards are being recognized at a special awards ceremony at the University Club, 1135 16th St NW, Washington, D.C., on February 29 at 8:30 a.m.

Lifetime Achievement – Kevin Hines, San Francisco, Calif.
As a suicide survivor — one of only 31 to survive a jump from the Golden Gate Bridge — Hines has spoken to more than 300,000 people about suicide prevention and about "living mentally well." He reaches out to every age, gender, and group — especially members of the U.S. military — to help them fight the shame and discrimination associated with mental illness.

Destigmatization – Randy Revelle, Seattle, Wash.
Revelle continuously challenges stereotypes about mental illness. His own experiences with insurance discrimination made him a champion in the fight for mental health parity in Washington state. As county executive, Randy has done much to improve mental health services in King County, Washington.

Primary Care – Joanne Jubelier, Los Angeles, Calif.
Jubelier grew mental health services at Venice Family Clinic from a labor of love staffed primarily by volunteer clinicians and community members to a fully staffed department with a specialized component addressing domestic violence.

Psychiatry – Professor Norman Sartorius, M.D., Geneva, Switzerland
Former director of the Division of Mental Health of the World Health Organization, and president of the World Psychiatric Association, Sartorius has conducted several major international studies on depression and believes the misunderstanding attached to mental illness is the main barrier to recovery and has worked to diminish that through science, education and social change.

Community Service – David Fajgenbaum, Philadelphia, Pa.
Fajgenbaum knows firsthand what it is like to struggle alone with the loss of a family member while in college. Today, thanks to Students of AMF — a campus-wide network that Fajgenbaum started after losing his mother to a terminal brain tumor — thousands of students across the country grieving the illness or death of a loved one know they are not alone and get support from peers and professionals.

"The Welcome Back Awards continue to serve as an inspiration to both people suffering from mental illness and those who help them on the journey to recovery," said Robert Baker, M.D., global development leader for psychiatry and pain disorders at Lilly. "The stories of hope and survival from the courageous winners can make a difference in the lives of many others."

(1) * Kessler, R. C., Chiu, W. T., Demler, O. and Walters, E. E. (2005) "Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). Archives of General Psychiatry. 62, 617-627.

About the Welcome Back Awards
Lilly established the Welcome Back Awards in 1998 to fight the stigma associated with depression and to promote the understanding that depression is treatable. Over the past 13 years, Lilly has donated more than $375,000 to charity on behalf of 53 Welcome Back Award winners. The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is pleased to partner with Lilly to recognize the 2011 honorees. Learn more about the honorees at www.TheNationalCouncil.org.

About the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) association of 1,950 community healthcare organizations that provide treatment and rehabilitation for mental illnesses and addiction disorders to nearly 6 million adults, children and families in communities across the country.

About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly (NYSE: LLY), a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers — through medicines and information — for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com; Lilly's clinical trial registry is available at www.lillytrials.com.