ValueOptions Honored with Two 2013 eHealthcare Leadership Awards for Excellence in Digital Communications

NORFOLK, Va., Nov. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ValueOptions^®, Inc., a health improvement company specializing in mental and emotional wellbeing and recovery, was recognized by the 14^th Annual eHealthcare Leadership Awards for two of its Web-based efforts: Stamp Out Stigma, which took home a Platinum award for Best Marketing Campaign; and Achieve Solutions, which earned a Silver award for Best Overall Internet Site.

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The eHealthcare Leadership Awards recognize the top websites, online initiatives and digital communications from a range of healthcare-oriented organizations, including hospitals, health systems, pharmaceutical firms and online health companies. Winners were selected from more than 1,100 entries across 14 award categories, and were judged by nearly 120 healthcare and digital communications experts on a proprietary multi-point standard of Internet excellence.

Platinum-winning Stamp Out Stigma, an initiative to promote an open dialogue about mental health and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, was developed in collaboration with Norfolk-based Sway Creative Labs, who directed the creative efforts. The campaign's highly interactive website provides educational tools and resources for those seeking support for a mental health issue, including an award-winning video series featuring interviews with ValueOptions employees personally impacted by mental illness. The site also allows users to upload mental health-themed badges, banners and profile pictures to their Facebook pages, and order Stamp Out Stigma wristbands to show their support on the go. To see the award-winning initiative, and for more information on Stamp Out Stigma, please visit www.stampoutstigma.com.

"Though one in four of us will experience a mental illness in a given year, less than one-third of Americans will seek help," said Tom Warburton, ValueOptions Vice President, Corporate Communications. "Through compelling narratives and shareable resources, Stamp Out Stigma reaches people who may have never considered the prevalence of mental illness and helps them, as is a key message for the campaign, to 'Talk about it.' Fostering this kind of dialogue encourages a more compassionate, constructive approach to mental illness, so that stigma disappears and we get the help we need."

Its recent Silver award marks the ninth year that Achieve Solutions, a comprehensive behavioral health and wellness website for its members, has been recognized for innovative excellence by the eHealthcare Leadership Awards. Highly customizable, Achieve Solutions consists of more than 250 customized client sites and more than 7,000 content items with information, tools and other resources on more than 200 topics, including depression, stress, anxiety, alcohol, marriage, grief and loss, child/elder care and work/life balance. Its editorial staff ensures the content is comprehensive, credible, current and easy to comprehend.

"We are proud to be recognized, once again, as an industry leader on the Web," said Rich Paul, ValueOptions Senior Vice President, Customer and Product Strategy Officer. "By continually innovating and expanding our digital reach, we are able to instantly connect a greater number of people with practical resources and meet them 'where they are.' Our online tools are engaging and intuitive, and most importantly, they empower individuals to make positive changes that improve their lives."  

About ValueOptions^®
ValueOptions is a health improvement company that serves more than 32 million individuals. On behalf of employers, health plans and government agencies, we manage innovative programs and solutions that directly address the challenges our health care system faces today. A national leader in the fields of mental and emotional wellbeing, recovery and resilience, employee assistance, and wellness, ValueOptions helps people make the difficult life changes needed to be healthier and more productive. With offices nationwide and a network of more than 130,000 provider locations, ValueOptions helps people take important steps in the right direction. We help them live their lives to the fullest potential. Visit www.valueoptions.com for more information.

About Stamp Out Stigma  
Stamp Out Stigma is an initiative to ensure we remove stigma as a barrier to people seeking the care they need to recover. This initiative commits us all to recognize the high prevalence of mental illness and to reeducate ourselves, friends and family on the truths of mental illness. When we do this, we reduce the stigma. This campaign reminds each of us that we can help transform the dialog on mental health from a whisper to a conversation. Visit www.stampoutstigma.com for more ways to starting talking about mental health.

SOURCE ValueOptions