Awards Program Seeks Nominations Honoring Heroes of Depression Community

Awards Program Seeks Nominations Honoring Heroes of Depression
Community
Donations - Totaling $55,000 - Awarded to Organizations Chosen by Winners 


NEW YORK, Oct. 26  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A hero can take many forms. In the
depression community, it can be a person who has overcome and now champions
those battling this devastating illness; someone who passionately works to
reduce the stigma associated with mental illness; even a physician, whose work
or research has advanced the treatment of those with depression in his or her
community.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2005 Welcome Back Awards, a program
created in 1998 to honor these heroes and support their ongoing efforts.

The Welcome Back Awards committee, an independent panel of mental health
experts, selects winners in five categories: lifetime achievement,
destigmatization, community service, primary care and psychiatry.

As part of the award, a donation is made to a not-for-profit organization
chosen by the award recipient.  To mark the program's seventh anniversary, the
selection committee has doubled the donation amounts.  Beginning in 2005,
$15,000 will be awarded for lifetime achievement and $10,000 for each of the
other four categories.

Individuals from every walk of life have received recognition for fostering a
greater understanding of depression and access to treatment.  In May 2004,
Suzanne Mintz was honored with a Lifetime Achievement award for her work as the
president and co-founder of the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA). 
Her personal struggle with depression drove her to establish the NFCA, which
has brought recognition and help to millions of Americans whose dedication to
caring for loved ones has placed them at risk for clinical depression.

"Being public about depression is the first step to getting support," says Mrs.
Mintz.  "And asking for support, sometimes demanding it, will keep important
family structures intact."

The winners will be honored during a ceremony in May 2005, which will be held
in Atlanta, GA.  Each award recipient and one guest will receive complimentary
airfare and accommodations to attend the ceremony.

How to Nominate Someone

Anyone, except employees of Eli Lilly and Company, may nominate someone for a
Welcome Back Award.  Nomination forms can be obtained by calling
1-800-463-6440, or by visiting http://www.welcomebackawards.com/ .  All
submissions for consideration must be received by December 31, 2004.  Completed
nomination packets should be sent to: The 2005 Welcome Back Awards, P.O. Box
845, New York, NY 10268-0845.

About the Award Categories

*  Lifetime Achievement: Any individual whose perseverance has helped him or
her overcome clinical depression.  This person serves as an inspiration to
patients and health care professionals alike, reminding them that depression is
treatable and obstacles to recovery can be overcome.  (Award level: $15,000)

*  Destigmatization:  Any individual whose public efforts promote the
understanding of depression and reduce the shame and guilt associated with the
illness.  (Award level: $10,000)

*  Community Service: Any mental health advocate 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 -- psychologist, physician, social
worker or nurse -- whose consistent, caring approach to treating patients
serves as an example for others.  (Award level: $10,000)

*  Psychiatry: Any psychiatrist whose efforts, through treatment, research or
outreach to other medical disciplines, have helped raise depression awareness
in the medical community, or who has an exceptional approach to treating
patients with depression.  (Award level: $10,000)

About the Welcome Back Awards

The Welcome Back Awards was established in 1998 by Eli Lilly and Company to
fight the stigma associated with depression and to promote the understanding
that depression is treatable.

About Lilly

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, 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 http://www.lilly.com/ .

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO ) 

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO

DATASOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company



CONTACT:  Helen DelleCave of Chamberlain Communications Group,

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