Washington State Resident Honored with National Welcome Back Award

 A personal fight for mental health insurance coverage spurred a state champion in the fight for "parity"

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Randy Revelle of Seattle will receive a Welcome Back Award for his achievements in the fight against mental illness at the 13th annual Welcome Back Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. These annual awards help promote awareness of depression as a real, common, and treatable illness.

Revelle will be recognized for continuously challenging 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 did much to improve mental health services in King County, Washington. He currently works as Senior Vice President for the Washington State Hospital Association where he continues his passionate crusade for better care and understanding for people living with mental illnesses.

"Although the public understanding of mental illness and its treatment has improved, perceptions and experiences of stigma still exact a heavy toll on individuals, caregivers, and social policy," says Revelle. "It is often more difficult to overcome the stigma of mental illness than to recover from the illness itself."

"Mental illnesses can be debilitating without the proper care afforded through insurance coverage. Randy Revelle transformed his own personal struggle with insurance coverage discrimination into a fight for mental health coverage for his fellow citizens – and won. He has sent a strong message of hope to thousands of others. We salute his achievements," said Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare.

"After 13 years, the Welcome Back Awards continue to serve as inspiration to people suffering from mental illness, as well as to those who help them on the journey to recovery," said Robert Baker, M.D., global development leader for psychiatry and pain disorders at Lilly. "Randy Revelle's courage has made a difference for all Washington State citizens. This award acknowledges all that he has done to improve their lives."

Each year, an independent panel of national mental health leaders recognizes individuals for their outstanding achievements. Lilly will award Revelle a $10,000 donation to the not-for-profit organization of his choice. Revelle will give his donation to Navos, a Seattle-based mental health organization focusing on caring for low-income people living with mental illnesses. 

Revelle and four other Welcome Back honorees will be 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.

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, 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.

SOURCE Washington State Hospital Association