Deadline Extended to Submit Nominations for 10th Anniversary of Depression Awards Program
November 13 2007 - 7:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
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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