Janssen Pharmaceutica NV Extends Commitment to Global Mental Health Scholarships as Part of Its Healthy Minds Programme

-- Funding to British schools continues meaningful aid for future leaders in mental health research, policy and practice

LONDON, Dec. 5,  2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Janssen Pharmaceutica NV ("Janssen") announced today an educational grant of £355,276 to the Centre for Global Mental Health, a programme of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, ensuring the advancement of the Centre's Global Mental Health Scholarship Fund. Given as part of Janssen's global Healthy Minds programme, the grant will support scholarships for training nine outstanding future leaders in the field of mental health during the 2014-18 academic years.

Janssen has supported 18 full scholarships through the Fund, including this new grant and contributions to the Fund in its inaugural 2013-14 academic year. Open to honours graduates from around the world, the programme is a rigorous one-year Master of Science (MSc) course of study in global mental health research, policy and practice. It is designed to prepare graduates for careers in national mental health policy and planning, in epidemiological and mental health services research, and as mental health advisors and advocates in government ministries, international aid agencies and non-governmental organisations.

The scholarships will cover tuition, room and board, transportation, books, daily expenses and international travel to and from London. They are intended for students from or working in low- and middle-income countries, where the need for mental health care is disproportionately great. Janssen is not involved in the selection of the scholarship winners, who are chosen by academic staff at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London.

"Addressing the gap between the volume of people suffering from mental health disorders globally and the access they have to adequate treatment is imperative," said Husseini K. Manji, MD, Global Therapeutic Area Head for Neuroscience, Janssen Research & Development, LLC. "We are in the midst of a global mental health crisis, as evidenced by the high percentage of the global health burden attributed to mental health disorders. It's important for effective strategies to be implemented at the local level, and that is why Janssen is committed to the success of this programme. We believe solutions start by equipping a diverse array of professionals with the knowledge and tools they will gain through the Global Mental Health Scholarship Fund."

The MSc in Global Mental Health programme is taught jointly through two world-renowned postgraduate research and teaching institutions – the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.

"Lack of mental health care remains one of the most neglected problems worldwide," said Professor Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. "Hundreds of millions of people around the world with mental, neurological or substance-use disorders do not receive even the most basic care, even though effective and low-cost treatments exist. Our MSc in Global Mental Health trains mental health leaders to improve access to care in countries around the world, and we are delighted to be working on this pioneering programme with the Institute of Psychiatry."

The MSc candidates in Global Mental Health receive training in epidemiological and health services research methods to equip them to monitor and evaluate mental health programmes. They also learn to devise locally appropriate and feasible strategies to reduce the burden of mental health disorders at every level, from national health policy and systems to individual clinical interventions. For more information about the programme, the course directors can be contacted at MScGMH@lshtm.ac.uk or gmh-msc@kcl.ac.uk.

"The new funding is another example of Janssen's commitment to foster programmes targeted at designing effective mental health treatment and improving access to that treatment globally," said Jane Griffiths, Company Group Chairman, Janssen, Europe, Middle East and Africa. "We are eager to witness the blueprint last year's recipients will create and implement for handling the burden of mental health disorders in their local communities. The growth of the programme and Fund will see more scholars dispatched to the corners of the world where their expertise is needed the most and will have the greatest impact."

A reception to thank donors to the Global Mental Health MSc programme and celebrate the work of the Centre for Global Mental Health was held Thursday, 28 November, at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. The event was hosted by Professor Peter Piot and honoured representatives from Janssen, which has been a major supporter of the programme since its inception, as well as individual philanthropic supporters.

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is a leading centre for research and postgraduate education in public and global health, with 4000 students and more than 1,300 staff working in over 100 countries. The School's mission is to improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide; working in partnership to achieve excellence in public and global health research, education and translation of knowledge into policy and practice.

About Janssen's Healthy Minds Programme
Janssen's interests in integrated care for brain diseases have a direct connection to the Janssen Healthy Minds programme, launched in 2011 to encourage collaboration among biotechnology, pharmaceutical and public-sector organisations to accelerate the discovery of new therapeutic solutions for neurologic and brain diseases. Healthy Minds builds on Janssen's longstanding legacy of achievement in advancing neuroscience research. The company's work in this area dates back to the 1950s, when Dr. Paul Janssen's discovery and development work led to one of the first breakthrough treatments for schizophrenia. Janssen takes its name from "Dr. Paul," who is known as one of the 20th century's most gifted and passionate physicians and pharmaceutical researchers.

Over the last half century, Janssen has discovered, developed and launched many innovative treatments for brain and CNS conditions and remains firmly committed to neuroscience. Janssen supports public and professional education about mental illness and brain disorders, and funds sponsorships and philanthropy in the field of neuroscience and mental health.

About Janssen Pharmaceutica NV
Janssen Pharmaceutica NV ("Janssen") is based in Beerse, Belgium, and has an operating unit in the United Kingdom. Janssen focuses on the discovery, development and production of new medicines and diagnostics and on the provision of innovative therapies for the benefit of patients, doctors and other health care professionals all over the world. Janssen concentrates its efforts on five therapeutic research areas: neurosciences, oncology, vaccines and infectious diseases, immunology, and cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. For more information, please visit http://en.janssenpharmaceutica.be/.