The Economist Events to Host Conference to Debate the Urgent Need for a United Response to the Global Depression Crisis

LONDON, October 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

More than 170 international policymakers, senior business leaders, academics, and patient advocates, are convening in London on November 25th to discuss the urgent need for a global response to the increasing impact of depression.

The Conference entitled 'The Global Crisis of Depression - The Low of the 21st Century' will discuss the global burden of depression, which now affects more than 350 million people and address the need for a global approach, aiming to tackle an issue that has become the leading cause of disability worldwide. In Europe, 1 in 10 employees have missed work due to depression.

"Depression is so pervasive that it escapes no one. We all know it intimately or we know people living with it. There's help, but we need to better pave that path. This disease is not a part of normal life," said Linda Rosenberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Council for Behavioral Health, USA

Kofi Annan, former Secretary General, United Nations, will open the Conference, which will include keynote speaker presentations on the burden of depression on society, the need for new advances in treatment, the challenge of depression in the workplace, and how stakeholders from all strata of society must come together to address the impact of depression.

Key speakers include:

• KOFI ANNAN, former Secretary General, United Nations; Chairman, Kofi Annan Foundation
• RT HON NORMAN LAMB MP, Minister of State for Care and Support, United Kingdom
• NICK HÆKKERUP, Minister of Health, Denmark
• BEATRICE LORENZIN, Minister of Health, Italy
• ALASTAIR CAMPBELL, Communicator, Writer, Strategist
• DAVID HASLAM, Chair, NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence)
• FRANCESCA COLOMBO, Head of Health Division, OECD
• LORD DENNIS STEVENSON, former Chair, HBOS; Trustee, MQ: Transforming Mental Health

The Global Crisis of Depression is organised by The Economist Events, and sponsored by Lundbeck. For the latest programme, please visit http://www.depression.economist.com. You can also join us on Twitter at #depressionsummit and @EconomistEvents.

About The Economist Events
The Economist Events is the leading provider of international forums for senior executives seeking new insights into strategic issues. These meetings include industry conferences, management events and government roundtables held around the world. As part of The Economist Group, The Economist Events is a highly respected brand with a 162-year history and an unrivalled reputation for excellence and independence. Each meeting organised by The Economist Events delivers objective and informed analysis. Our meetings provide unusually high-level forums where senior executives can gain insights, exchange views and compare strategies.
http://www.economistinsights.com/events

About Lundbeck
Lundbeck is a global pharmaceutical company specialized in brain diseases. For more than 50 years, we have been at the forefront of research within neuroscience. Our key areas of focus are alcohol dependence, Alzheimer's disease, bipolar disorder, depression/anxiety, epilepsy, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and stroke. Our approximately 6,000 employees in 57 countries are engaged in the entire value chain throughout research, development, production, marketing and sales. Our pipeline consists of several late-stage development programmes and our products are available in more than 100 countries. We have research centres in China, Denmark and the United States and production facilities in China, Denmark, France and Italy. Lundbeck generated revenue of DKK15.3 billion in 2013 (EUR2.1 billion; USD2.7 billion).
http://www.lundbeck.com