Hearst Editorial Director Ellen Levine & Author Lee Woodruff To Speak At The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation's "Women Breaking The Silence About Mental Illness" Luncheon

NEW YORK, May 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, a not-for-profit organization funding innovative scientific research to better understand the causes, develop new treatments for, and alleviate suffering from brain and behavior disorders, will host its second "Women Breaking the Silence About Mental Illness" Luncheon featuring a discussion between Hearst Magazine's Editorial Director Ellen Levine and advocate, author Lee Woodruff about depression, anxiety and the importance of removing the stigma from mental illness. The Luncheon will be held Monday, June 15, 2015 at the Metropolitan Club in Midtown Manhattan.

"By engaging in this important conversation about depression, anxiety and recovery, Ellen Levine and Lee Woodruff are educating the public, raising awareness and, most importantly, helping to eliminate the stigma around mental illness that keeps so many people suffering in silence instead of seeking help," says Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D., President and CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. "We are grateful for their candor."

"As a noted author and public figure, Lee Woodruff's willingness to share her experiences goes a long way toward eliminating the shame and embarrassment that keeps mental illness in the shadows," says Ms. Levine.

"Stigma and the fear of being labeled stops many people from finding the help they need," noted Ms. Woodruff. "Speaking openly about mental disorders helps people understand they are not alone and encourages support for the kind of research that will lead to more effective treatments."

Levine made publishing history in October 1994 as the first woman to be named editor-in-chief of Good Housekeeping since the magazine was founded in 1885. During her tenure, she was instrumental in launching new titles at Hearst Magazines, including O, The Oprah Magazine, the most successful magazine launch ever. In May 2006, Levine was appointed editorial director at Hearst Magazines. In addition to many other awards, Levine received the first annual Media Award by the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology for the numerous articles on mental illness she published in Good Housekeeping.

Woodruff is the author of three books, including "In An Instant," a New York Times best-seller that also garnered critical acclaim for its compelling and humorous chronicle of her family's journey to recovery following her husband ABC journalist Bob Woodruff's roadside bomb injury in Iraq. She serves as co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation which has raised more than $20 million to help veterans successfully reintegrate into their communities and receive critical long-term care.

Tickets for the "Women Breaking the Silence About Mental Illness" Luncheon are available online.

About the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation:

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation is committed to alleviating the suffering of mental illness by awarding grants that will lead to advances and breakthroughs in scientific research. The Foundation funds the most innovative ideas in neuroscience and psychiatry to better understand the causes and develop new ways to treat brain and behavior disorders. These disorders include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Since 1987, the Foundation has awarded more than $328 million to fund more than 4,800 grants to more than 3,800 leading scientists around the world. This has led to over $3 billion in additional funding for these scientists. The Foundation is also dedicated to educating the public about mental health and the importance of research including the impact that new discoveries have on improving the lives of those with mental illness, which will ultimately enable people to live full, happy and productive lives. For more information, visit www.bbrfoundation.org.

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SOURCE Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

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