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Connect 4 Mental Health® Community Innovation Awards Program Honors Four Community-Based Organizations Addressing Serious Mental IllnessIn an effort to better address the needs of the estimated 40 percent of adults living with serious mental illness who do not receive mental health services,1 Connect 4 Mental Health® (C4MH) today announced the winners of the 2014 Community Innovation Awards. With these awards, C4MH partners - the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the National Council for Behavioral Health (National Council), Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Lundbeck - recognize local mental health organizations across the country that are working to address serious mental illness in their communities at a grassroots level across four service areas: early intervention, creative use of technology, continuity of care and service integration. "People with mental illness can and do lead meaningful lives, especially when they are supported in achieving their goals as valued members of their communities," said Mary Giliberti, Executive Director of NAMI. "A key to achieving positive outcomes and preventing negative consequences such as homelessness and poverty is through sustainable collaboration between individuals, providers and systems, making C4MH an important catalyst for facilitating these types of collaborative efforts." The winning organizations in each category are:
"We applaud these organizations, who have found innovative ways to positively impact the lives of people with serious mental illness," said Linda Rosenberg, president and CEO of the National Council. "By sharing their experiences, resources, and information they inspire us, they allow us to learn from each other and they give communities the chance to replicate success." Launched in 2013, C4MH attempts to highlight why broader leadership and collaboration at the community level are important in addressing the needs of individuals living with serious mental illness and show how the experiences of select communities across the nation may serve as models for change. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing mental healthcare locally, there may be best practices and actionable steps that communities could consider as they establish or improve upon their mental health programs or service offerings. To learn more about C4MH, the Community Innovation Awards and the need for community-oriented solutions for serious mental illness visit www.connect4mentalhealth.com. About Connect 4 Mental Health® Connect 4 Mental Health® (C4MH) is a nationwide initiative calling for communities to prioritize serious mental illness and advocate for new approaches that aim to help make a difference for individuals living with these conditions, their families and their communities. The campaign encourages collaboration among the mental health community and other community-based organizations - such as emergency services, law enforcement and public housing - to develop localized interventions that provide additional support for those with serious mental illness and also may help address larger community problems. C4MH launched nationally in November 2013 with its Community Collaboration Summit in Washington, D.C., where mental health advocates and criminal justice, housing and other community-based stakeholders introduced several comprehensive and integrated approaches aimed at helping the estimated 1 in 17 Americans living with serious mental illness, their families and their broader communities.2 C4MH is an alliance between the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the National Council for Behavioral Health (National Council), Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Lundbeck. The National Alliance on Mental Illness The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the largest grassroots mental health organization in the U.S. dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for patient access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community of hope for all of those in need. NAMI is the foundation for hundreds of NAMI state organizations, NAMI affiliates and volunteer leaders who work in local communities across the country to raise awareness and provide essential and free education, advocacy and support group programs. To learn more about NAMI, visit www.nami.org. National Council for Behavioral Health (National Council) The National Council for Behavioral Health (National Council) is the unifying voice of America's community mental health and addictions treatment organizations. Together with 2,200 member organizations, it serves more than eight million adults and children living with mental illnesses and addiction disorders. The organization is committed to ensuring all Americans have access to comprehensive, high-quality care that affords every opportunity for recovery and full participation in community life. The National Council pioneered Mental Health First Aid in the U.S. and has trained more than 150,000 individuals to connect youth and adults in need to mental health and addictions care in their communities. To learn more about the National Council, visit www.thenationalcouncil.org. Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI) is an innovative, fast-growing healthcare company that commercializes Otsuka-discovered and in-licensed products in the U.S., with a strong focus on neuroscience, oncology, cardio-renal and medical devices. For more information, visit www.otsuka-us.com. OAPI is a subsidiary of Otsuka America, Inc. (OAI), a holding company established in the U.S. in 1989. OAI is wholly owned by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., based in Japan. The Otsuka Group employs approximately 42,000 people globally and its products are available in more than 80 countries worldwide. Otsuka welcomes you to visit its global website at https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/. Lundbeck Based in Deerfield, Ill., Lundbeck U.S. was formed in 2009 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of H. Lundbeck A/S in Denmark. With a focus on accelerating advances in brain disorders, employees are engaged in the research, development, production, marketing and sale of innovative therapies that fulfill unmet medical needs among people living with challenging and sometimes rare neurologic and psychiatric disorders. In its late-stage research pipeline, the company has neurology compounds under investigation for Alzheimer's disease, stroke and epilepsy, in addition to therapies in development for mental health disorders. With a special commitment to the lives of patients, families and caregivers, Lundbeck actively engages in hundreds of initiatives each year that support our patient communities. To learn more, visit us at www.LundbeckUS.com and connect with us on Twitter (News - Alert) at @LundbeckUS. References:
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