Oregon Mental Health Program Founder Wins National Award Springfield Advocate Honored for Establishing SAFE Haven for the Mentally Ill ATLANTA, May 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Those living in depression's grip often describe feeling worthless, insignificant and of no value to anyone. Treatment can help significantly, but treatment is only part of the equation. Each person's process of recovery is linked to an individual's personal strengths -- the interests, talents or values that make each person unique. For his work with SAFE, Inc., a Springfield, Oregon community-based non-profit where people with depression and mental illnesses rediscover the strengths and the self-esteem needed to make recovery more achievable, R Drake Ewbank has been honored by an independent panel of national mental health leaders with the 2005 Welcome Back Award for community service. Eli Lilly and Company sponsors the national awards program, which is in its seventh year. "Mr. Ewbank helped establish a physical space with a supportive environment where people with depression can heal," said Steven Roose, MD, Welcome Back Awards committee member and professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University. "His focus on the need to rebuild self-esteem addresses one of the most devastating aspects of depression." SAFE is based around a community center, and is the only group in Oregon run by and for people with mental illnesses such as depression. Ewbank is an integral member of this group, and was a principal in designing many of the innovative peer-run programs that have garnered it national and regional acclaim, including its support groups, art workshops, programs on dealing with trauma, musical entertainment and computer services. Consumers that attend these activities at SAFE can develop new skills and build on existing ones; the consumer-volunteers that coordinate the programs have the invaluable opportunity to help others grow stronger, and in doing so, to grow stronger themselves. Both of these aspects turn a key symptom of depression into part of the solution, and can be an important part of recovery. With SAFE, Ewbank is continually looking for ways to increase awareness of SAFE's philosophy of peer participation and self-empowerment. Recently, he launched groundbreaking nutrition and personal health counseling services at SAFE, helping attendees to create good personal health routines as a compliment to treatment from a healthcare professional. "We want people to start working on their own personal health in ways that are self perpetuating," says Ewbank. "These tools, along with a strong sense of community, can contribute to overcoming the difficulties and feelings of helplessness caused by mental illnesses, so these issues don't prevent them from leading a fulfilling life." Ewbank is one of six individuals who will be honored at the seventh annual Welcome Back Awards ceremony on May 21, in Atlanta. Sponsored by Lilly, the Welcome Back Awards is a national program that recognizes outstanding individuals who make a difference in the depression community. In addition to his award, a $10,000 contribution from Lilly will be donated to SAFE, Inc. on Ewbank's behalf. Nominations for the 2006 Lilly Welcome Back Awards may be submitted by anyone wishing to recognize an individual for outstanding achievements within the depression community. For more information, call 800-463-6440 or visit http://www.welcomebackawards.com/. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050516/WBACKLOGO ) http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050516/WBACKLOGO DATASOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company CONTACT: Helen DelleCave of Chamberlain Communications Group, +1-212-884-0649

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