EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Sept. 21, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. Surgeon General reports that one in five adults and one in ten children experience a diagnosable mental illness in a given year. Despite efforts to create awareness and support for the treatment of mental health illness, the economic cost of untreated mental illness in the U.S. is more than $100 billion each year. CIGNA Behavioral Health (CBH) is joining with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to help fight the stigma still associated with mental illness by participating in the NAMIWALKS for the Mind of America campaign. In addition to participating in two of the upcoming 5K walks near regional CBH care centers in Minnesota and California, CBH is also a $10,000 sponsor of the campaign. "We are really proud as an organization to be a part of this fight. It is through the advocacy of organizations like NAMI that we reach as many people as possible to create a culture that supports the treatment of and recovery from mental illness," said Jodi Aronson Prohofsky, senior vice president of operations at CIGNA Behavioral Health. "I'm looking forward to walking and generating support and awareness for all people affected by mental illness." "We're so thankful to have CIGNA's support in bringing people together in the fight against the stigma of mental illness," said NAMI Minnesota executive director, Sue Abderholden. "Mental illness is not usually discussed openly within families, let alone at schools, places of worship, work, or in other public places. NAMIWALKS is a very public display that is an opportunity to overcome this challenge." More than 100 Minnesota teams are now registered online and the walk is expected to draw over 800 people. The Minneapolis walk will take place on Saturday, September 29 at 1:00 p.m. at Minnehaha Park. The California walk in Santa Monica takes place Saturday, October 6 on 3rd Street Promenade. Walkers interested in joining must register. For more information, visit http://www.namimn.org/ and click on the NAMIWALKS logo. About The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): NAMI is a non-profit, grassroots organization founded more than 25 years ago by families affected by mental illness. The organization works at the national, state and local levels to provide education, support and mental health advocacy. Today, NAMI is a presence in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada; with more than 220,000 members and 1,200 affiliate organizations. About CIGNA Behavioral Health CIGNA Behavioral Health provides behavioral care benefit management, EAPs and work/life programs to consumers through health plans offered by large U S employers, national and regional HMOs, Taft-Hartley trusts and disability insurers. CIGNA Behavioral Health, with headquarters in Eden Prairie, MN, operates care management centers around the U. S. in support of a national network of more than 56,800 independent psychiatrists, psychologists and clinical social workers and more than 5,100 facilities and clinics. For more information about CBH, visit http://www.cignabehavioral.com/. DATASOURCE: CIGNA Behavioral Health CONTACT: Julie Greely of CIGNA Behavioral Health, +1-952-996-2519, Web site: http://www.cignabehavioral.com/ http://www.namimn.org/

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