Drug Maker Enhances Health Care Education Effort

Eli Lilly and Co. has launched a public outreach initiative called Putting Patients First that promotes the company's desire to address the needs of patients and families in its health care initiatives.

As part of this campaign, visitors to Lilly's booth at APA's 2005 annual meeting were given a token that they could use to support one of several philanthropic organizations. Each token represented a $5 contribution to the chosen charity. The organizations that received contributions included the American Psychiatric Foundation, National Mental Health Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and World Federation for Mental Health and Families for Depression Awareness. The foundation received $20,000.

“We are extremely grateful to Eli Lilly and Co. and to all attendees at the annual meeting who participated in this effort. In addition to providing needed funds to further the foundation's mission, this effort helped to raise awareness of the foundation and our work to educate the public about mental illness,” said Altha Stewart, M.D., president of the American Psychiatric Foundation.

The American Psychiatric Foundation is APA's philanthropic and educational arm. The mission of the foundation is to advance public understanding that mental illnesses are real and can be effectively treated.

More information is posted at<www.psychfoundation.org>.▪