New York Psychiatrist Wins Prestigious National Mental Health Award
May 17 2005 - 7:27AM
PR Newswire (US)
New York Psychiatrist Wins Prestigious National Mental Health Award
Award Honors Work Benefiting the City's Indigent and Minority
Communities ATLANTA, May 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jorge R.
Petit, M.D., is a champion of people living with depression and
other mental illnesses who are in the greatest need -- those whose
illnesses are compounded by factors such as poverty, homelessness
or decreased access to care. For making it his vocation to provide
effective care for all people -- including the city's impoverished,
minority communities and the homeless -- this native New Yorker has
been honored by an independent panel of national mental health
leaders with the 2005 Welcome Back Award for psychiatry. Eli Lilly
and Company sponsors the national awards program, which is in its
seventh year. While in medical school in Argentina, Dr. Petit
gravitated towards practicing psychiatry, which he saw as the more
human side of medicine. He cut his teeth as a fellow of Public
Psychiatry at Columbia University, and honed his skills at Bellevue
Hospital's Bilingual Treatment program. Later, as acting chair of
the psychiatry department of Harlem's North General Hospital, he
forged an alliance with a local homeless shelter to provide
psychiatric care to a population that is often overlooked, but has
some of the most serious needs. "Being a giving member of my
community was a strong part of my upbringing and the most important
thread running through my work is the need to give back," says Dr.
Petit. "I practice among those with the most need. To me, that's
what is important in life." In addition to his work with the
homeless, Dr. Petit co-founded Alsofa, Inc., a multimedia education
group focusing on bridging the gap for Latinos who live with
depression and other mental illnesses, but struggle with cultural
barriers to treatment. On Alsofa.org, the group's mental health
information Web site, elements of Latino culture are integrated
with the message that depression is not one's "cross to bear," and
readers learn that the illness can be overcome with treatment. To
influence a wider Latino audience, Dr. Petit published The Seven
Beliefs; A Step-By-Step Guide To Help Latinas Recognize and
Overcome Depression last year. This widely acclaimed guide, the
first bilingual self- help book for Hispanic women with depression,
fights the stigma of depression in a culturally sensitive,
user-friendly format. Broadening his reach even further, Dr. Petit
recently became associate commissioner for program services in the
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, making
decisions on the hundreds of programs that are the bigger picture
of New York's mental health care system. "Because of Dr. Petit's
work in expanding depression information out to groups like Latinos
and the homeless, many have sought help because of his efforts when
they would otherwise have stayed silent," says Marilyn Martin,
M.D., psychiatrist and Welcome Back Awards committee member. "He is
a true example of a community psychiatrist, even if his community
now is the five boroughs of New York City." Dr. Petit is one of six
individuals who will be honored at the seventh annual Welcome Back
Awards ceremony on May 21, in Atlanta. Sponsored by Lilly, the
Welcome Back Awards is a national program that recognizes
outstanding individuals who make a difference in the depression
community. In addition to his award, a $10,000 contribution from
Lilly will be donated to Alsofa, Inc. on Dr. Petit's behalf.
Nominations for the 2006 Lilly Welcome Back Awards may be submitted
by anyone wishing to recognize an individual for outstanding
achievements within the depression community. For more information,
call 800-463-6440 or visit http://www.welcomebackawards.com/.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050516/WBACKLOGO
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http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050516/WBACKLOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO DATASOURCE:
Eli Lilly and Company CONTACT: Helen DelleCave of Chamberlain
Communications Group, +1-212-884-0649
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