The Welcome Back Awards Seeks Nominations to Honor Leaders in the Depression Community

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Welcome Back Awards is now accepting nominations to honor individuals dedicated to improving the lives of those suffering from depression. The Welcome Back Awards, now in its 13th year, is a program established by Eli Lilly and Company to recognize outstanding achievements in the fight against depression and the stigma often associated with the illness.

"The Welcome Back Awards continue to motivate healthcare providers and people living with depression to promote a greater understanding of the illness and find new, better ways to provide ongoing support," said John Hayes, M.D., Strategy Leader for Global Neuroscience Medical Affairs, Eli Lilly and Company. "The program underscores the meaning of commitment and community, and recognizes the important work of people who have gone above and beyond to improve mental health."

An independent panel of national mental health experts will select honorees in five categories: lifetime achievement, destigmatization, community service, primary care and psychiatry. Winners will receive $10,000, except for the lifetime achievement honoree, who will receive $15,000, to be donated to the not-for-profit organizations of their choice.

Since 1998, the Welcome Back Awards have honored people who have persevered in overcoming depression, helped others to do the same or dedicated significant amounts of time and effort to spread awareness of the illness.

In 2010, Danielle Butin was honored with a Welcome Back Award for her work as founder and executive director of the Afya Foundation of America, a large-scale medical supply recovery organization that works with major hospital systems to gather unused or overstocked supplies and send them to health clinics in Africa and the Caribbean. Through Danielle's vision and management of the organization, she has created volunteer and pre-vocational training programs for individuals suffering from mental illness to help integrate them back into the community.  

"Danielle's organization has helped people suffering from mental illness learn essential job skills, gain confidence and find meaning and purpose," said Susan Swain, D.N.P., R.N., Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Mount Sinai Hospital. "Her passion, energy and endless ideas for ways to help others are truly remarkable."

How to Apply for an Award or Nominate Someone Else

Anyone, except Lilly employees, may apply or be nominated for a Welcome Back Award.   Nomination forms can be obtained by visiting http://www.lilly.com/responsibility/servingpatients/outcomes/ or calling 212-884-0650. All submissions for consideration must be postmarked by Jan. 1, 2011.  Completed nomination packets should be sent to: 2011 Welcome Back Awards, P.O. Box 536, New York, NY, 10008-0536, or faxed to 614-839-7395. Winners will be announced in the spring of 2011.  

About the Award Categories

• Lifetime Achievement: Awarded to an individual whose perseverance has helped him or her overcome clinical depression and resume a fulfilling life. This person serves as an inspiration to consumers and healthcare professionals alike, offering hope that depression is treatable and obstacles to recovery can be overcome. (Award level: $15,000)  
• Destigmatization: Awarded to an individual whose noteworthy public efforts have helped promote the understanding of depression and reduce the shame and guilt associated with the illness. (Award level: $10,000)
• Community Service: Awarded to an individual whose outstanding work has created and improved community programs that foster a supportive, caring environment for those suffering from depression. (Award level: $10,000)
• Primary Care: Awarded to a healthcare professional – psychologist, physician, social worker or nurse – whose unique approach to identifying particular needs in depression diagnosis and treatment serves as an example to others. (Award level: $10,000)
• Psychiatry: Awarded to a psychiatrist who transcends the profession through community work, innovative clinical programs, teaching, new research or outstanding work with patients, or who makes a significant impact on the community or other medical disciplines. (Award level: $10,000)

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 12 years, Lilly has donated more than $485,000 to charity on behalf of 64 Welcome Back Award recipients.  

About Eli Lilly and Company

Lilly, 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, IN, 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.

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SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company