Museum Dr. Guislain and Janssen Research & Development, LLC Issue Global Call for Nominations for 2015 Dr. Guislain "Breaking the Chains of Stigma" Award

-Seeking profiles in mental health patient advocacy excellence-

GHENT, Belgium, 27 January, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Museum Dr. Guislain in Ghent, Belgium and Janssen Research & Development, LLC ("Janssen"), today announced they are seeking nominations for the fourth annual Dr. Guislain "Breaking the Chains of Stigma" Award. The award honors an individual, project or organization that has made an exceptional contribution to reduce stigma associated with mental illness. Nominations from people and organizations across the globe can be submitted at www.drguislainaward.org, and will be accepted until 1 March, 2015. A $50,000 prize will be awarded to the individual or group receiving the award, which must be used toward further work to reduce societal stigma about mental illness.

The Dr. Guislain "Breaking the Chains of Stigma" Award honors Dr. Joseph Guislain (1797-1860), a driven activist for patients with mental illness and the first Belgian psychiatrist to provide scientifically based treatment for these individuals. As a passionate advocate for those with mental illness, Dr. Guislain worked tirelessly to stand up for the rights of patients and help improve their social position. Museum Dr. Guislain and Janssen jointly sponsor the award, with funding provided by Janssen. Both organizations have a rich heritage and long-standing involvement in the field of mental illness research, treatment and education.

"Museum Dr. Guislain annually pays homage to Dr. Guislain by recognizing an individual or organizational effort which mirrors the passion and compassion he exercised for his patients suffering from mental illness," said Brother Rene Stockman, general manager of the Museum Dr. Guislain. "Each winner selected in the last four years has gone to extraordinary lengths to highlight the plight of the mentally ill in their corner of the world, curbing stigma and promoting advocacy in their communities."

The winning individual, project or organization will be determined by an independent selection committee of international advocates and renowned authorities in the field of mental health, and honored at a ceremony on 8 October, 2015, in Ghent, Belgium.

Robin Hammond, world renowned documentary photographer and filmmaker, won the 2014 Dr. Guislain Award for his photography which raises awareness of the struggles faced by patients with brain disorders and advocates for social justice for the mentally ill in sub-Saharan African nations. He is a previous recipient of the W. Eugene Smith Grant for Humanistic Photography and of four Amnesty International awards for Human Rights journalism.

"Janssen is pleased to continue its strong partnership with the Museum Dr. Guislain this year. Supporting the Dr. Guislain 'Breaking the Chains of Stigma' Award further demonstrates our longstanding commitment to solving the most pressing challenges facing patients with mental illness and other diseases of the brain," said Husseini K. Manji, MD, Global Therapeutic Area Head for Neuroscience, Janssen Research & Development, LLC. "Our alliance is a vital element of the Healthy Minds Initiative, which is designed to empower mental health advocates, like past Dr. Guislain Award winners, to help transform the lives of patients from every continent."

Janssen has a legacy of, and ongoing commitment to, advancing neuroscience research. This legacy and commitment dates back to the work of Dr. Paul Janssen (1926-2003). "Dr. Paul" is known as one of the 20th century's most gifted and passionate physicians and pharmaceutical researchers. To honor his legacy, Janssen supports the mental health community and various advocacy organizations and projects. In 2011, the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson launched Healthy Minds, a comprehensive initiative that aims to encourage collaboration among biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and public-sector partners to accelerate the discovery of new therapeutic solutions for diseases and disorders of the brain.

About the Dr. Guislain "Breaking the Chains of Stigma" Award
Individuals, organizations or projects from around the world that have made an exceptional contribution in dealing with, or promoting the awareness of, mental health care are eligible* to receive the Dr. Guislain "Breaking the Chains of Stigma" Award. The Award is given to an individual(s), organization or project that:

• has made an exceptional contribution to mental healthcare in the broadest sense on a cultural and/or social level;
• has provided a genuine contribution to decreasing stigma around mental health conditions;
• has promoted attention for mental health care;
• and has done all this with passion, creativity and innovation.

About Museum Dr. Guislain
The Museum Dr. Guislain was founded in 1986 in Ghent, Belgium, and its exhibits address the history of psychiatry in a permanent collection and through a series of half-yearly changing thematic exhibitions. The Museum features an array of psychiatric photographs, two centuries of comprehensive archives and an extensive library chronicling the history of psychiatry. Comprehensively, the Museum seeks to educate the public and rectify the misunderstandings and prejudice associated with treatment for mental illness. The Museum Dr. Guislain attracts 70,000 visitors each year.

About Dr. Joseph Guislain
Dr. Joseph Guislain (1797-1860) was a driven activist for patients with mental illness and the first Belgian psychiatrist to provide scientifically-based treatment for these individuals. As a passionate advocate for those with mental illness, Dr. Guislain worked tirelessly to stand up for the rights of patients and help improve their social position. He lectured and published extensively about mental illness and enjoyed considerable recognition by his contemporaries. Please visit www.drguislainaward.org for more information.

*Employees and officers of Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, and their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, The Museum Dr. Guislain, any promotional agencies and members of the immediate family or household of each, are not eligible to participate in the Dr. Guislain Award as nominators, Award candidates or judges. Immediate family member is defined as a parent, sibling or any person residing in the same household as employee.

Contact:
Patrick Allegaert
Museum Dr. Guislain
+32 9 216 35 95
allegaert.patrick@gmail.com

Yoon Hee Lamot
Museum Dr. Guislain
+32 9 216 35 36
y.lamot@museumdrguislain.be

Related Links

http://www.drguislainaward.org

SOURCE Museum Dr. Guislain