Nominate Yourself or Someone You Know and Be a Part of This Special Anniversary Celebration NEW YORK, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The deadline to submit nominations for the 10th anniversary celebration of the Welcome Back Awards, a national awards program that recognizes heroes in the depression community, has been extended by one month. Nominations are now due by Friday, December 14, 2007. Welcome Back Award winners will be honored at a ceremony in May of 2008 and can receive up to $15,000 to donate to the not-for-profit organization of their choice. The Welcome Back Awards 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. "Lilly is proud to be a part of the Welcome Back Awards," said John Hayes, M.D., vice president of Lilly Research Laboratories and global brand development team leader - Neuroscience, Eli Lilly and Company. "If you would like to have a chance to be honored at this special anniversary celebration, nominate yourself for a prestigious award." Call for 2008 Nominations Over the past ten years, the Welcome Back Awards has honored people who have persevered in overcoming depression, helped others to do the same or dedicated endless amounts of time and effort to spreading awareness of the illness. In May 2007, Dr. Thomas Stanage was honored with a Welcome Back Award for his work with Lewis & Clark Behavioral Health Services, Inc., in South Dakota. Navigating the vast landscape of South Dakota is one of Dr. Stanage's hardest tasks. However, he ensures that mental health services are available to all who need them by educating local professionals and having his own staff travel hundreds of miles to reach everyone. "Dr. Stanage's inspirational work places him in an elite crowd of individuals who have transformed the understanding and treatment of depression," said Roberto Lewis-Fernandez, M.D., Welcome Back Award committee member and associate professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University in New York. "I am looking forward to continuing the heritage of excellence during this anniversary year." An independent panel of mental health experts will select honorees in five categories: lifetime achievement, destigmatization, community service, primary care, and psychiatry. Winners will share a total of $55,000, to be donated to the not-for-profit organizations of their choice. Each award recipient and one guest will receive complimentary airfare and accommodations to attend the ceremony in Washington, D.C. in May 2008. How to Apply for an Award or Nominate Someone Else Anyone, except employees of Lilly, may apply or be nominated for a Welcome Back Award. Nomination forms can be obtained by visiting http://www.welcomebackawards.com/. All submissions for consideration must be received by Friday, December 14, 2007. Completed nomination packets should be sent to: The 2008 Welcome Back Awards, P.O. Box 536, New York, NY, 10008-0536. About the Award Categories * Lifetime Achievement: Any individual whose perseverance has helped him or her overcome clinical depression and resume a fulfilling life is eligible. 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: Any 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: Any individual whose outstanding work creating and improving community programs fosters a supportive, caring environment for those suffering from depression. (Award level: $10,000) * Primary Care: Any healthcare professional - psychologists, physicians, social workers or nurses - whose unique approach to identifying particular needs in depression diagnosis and treatment serves as an example to others. (Award level: $10,000) * Psychiatry: Any psychiatrist who transcends the profession through community work, innovative clinical programs, teaching, new research, 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 ten years, Lilly has donated more than $300,000 to charity on behalf of the 47 Welcome Back Award winners. About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information - for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at http://www.lilly.com/. DATASOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company CONTACT: Kristin Campbell of Chamberlain Healthcare Public Relations, +1-212-884-0636, for Eli Lilly and Company

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