Glenn Close To Be Honored At Fountain House Seventh Annual Symposium 5/3

Fountain House, an internationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to bettering the lives of people living with major mental illness, has announced that acclaimed actress Glenn Close will be honored with the Fountain House Humanitarian Award, for her dedicated and passionate advocacy on behalf of people living with mental illness. The Award will be presented at the seventh annual Fountain House Symposium and Luncheon, entitled Voices & Visions: Understanding and Treating Psychosis - New Research, New Hope, which will take place on Monday, May 3, 2010, at the Grand Ballroom of The Pierre in New York City, from 11:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Consuelo Mack, managing editor and anchor of Consuelo Mack WealthTrack, will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

"Today, neuroscience and psychiatry offer new knowledge and understanding of the complex causes and the brain mechanisms involved in psychosis," said Lynn Nicholas, PsyD, symposium Program Chair. "Although cures for the most severe psychotic disorders have not yet been found, the latest research and clinical information offer reasons to be less fearful and more hopeful," continued Nicholas. "With good treatment and support, recovery - the ability to live productively with illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder - can be achieved," concluded Nicholas.

The symposium will feature a panel discussion by leading experts in the fields of mental health research, treatment, and public policy: Jeffrey Lieberman, MD, Lawrence E. Kolb Professor and Chairman of Psychiatry, Lieber Professor of Schizophrenia Research at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute; Donald C. Goff, MD, Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School; and Beth Baxter, MD, a private practice psychiatrist based in Tennessee who lives with schizoaffective disorder.

Event Co-Chair Lorna Hyde Graev: "We hope that this annual event will raise awareness of the devastating impact of mental illness on our society, while educating our guests about the innovative programs of Fountain House, an award-winning New York City mental health organization with a unique recovery model - one that really works."

The Fountain House Symposium and Luncheon has become the premier educational forum on mental health in New York City. More than 500 guests from the worlds of philanthropy, business, and mental health are expected to attend. All proceeds will benefit Fountain House.

Honorary Chairs: The Honorable Robert A. Antonioni; US Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy; US Congressman John A. Sullivan.

Event Chairs: Patricia Begley, Kitty de Chazal, Lorna Hyde Graev, Alexandra A. Herzan, Anne Mai.

Program Chair: Lynn Nicholas, PsyD.

Corporate Chair: Kim S. Fennebresque, Dahlman Rose & Co., LLC.

Registration: 11:15 a.m.; Symposium and Luncheon: 12:00 Noon.

Glenn Close
Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony Award-winning actress Glenn Close headlines the critically acclaimed original legal thriller, Damages, on FX, which just completed its third season. For her portrayal of high-stakes litigator "Patty Hewes," Glenn won her second consecutive Emmy Award last year, for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and a Golden Globe Award. In the fall of 2009, Glenn Close and Fountain House initiated a new anti-stigma campaign, BringChange2Mind (www.bringchange2mind.org). An unprecedented coalition of national mental health organizations has come together to support this initiative. The idea for this campaign evolved from Close's firsthand observation of battles with mental illness within her family and subsequent volunteer work at Fountain House. Also in the fall of 2009, Glenn, along with Tony Award-winning actress Sarah Jones, performed an original theatre piece, Under My Hat, at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College. Under My Hat is a series of character sketches based on interviews Jones conducted with Fountain House members, and on other personal accounts of mental illness researched by both performers. The diversity of people portrayed in the piece illustrates that mental health concerns cut across every segment of society. Glenn has received the Inspire Award from AARP for her advocacy work on behalf of people living with mental illness.

Psychosis
The word psychosis, combining Greek words for mind or soul (psyche) and abnormal (osis), has been defined as a loss of contact with reality; as an altered or distorted perception of and relation to reality; and as an extreme state of consciousness that involves radical changes in personality, behavior, thinking, feeling and relating to others. Definitions of psychosis presuppose that, by and large, people share perceptions of reality and are able to relate to one another based on a shared sense of reality. Some individuals have unusual, unique perceptions that are benign, as in religious experience or creative activity; by contrast, psychotic states are defined as interfering with the ability to function and meet life's daily demands. Psychotic experiences occur more commonly than most people realize, and on a continuum in terms of severity and duration. Causes include the relatively uncommon and severe mental illnesses - such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and unipolar depression. However, psychotic reactions may occur in dementia, as well as due to alcohol or drug use, anesthesia, sleep deprivation, traumatic stress, or certain prescription drugs such as steroids.

About Fountain House
Founded in 1948 by former psychiatric patients of Rockland State Hospital, Fountain House is the world's leading provider of recovery services for men, women, and young adults living with major mental illness. Through its renowned comprehensive model of support, replicated in more than 400 locations in 30 countries and 32 states, Fountain House helps 1,300 people annually in finding a home, returning to school, re-entering the workplace, and re-establishing connections to family, friends, and the larger community. The annual Symposium and Luncheon was founded to advance community knowledge about mental illness and to reduce the associated stigma. For more information or to make a donation, please visit: www.fountainhouse.org.

For sponsorship and ticket information, contact Susan Bell Special Events: 212. 874.5457,
or susanbell@bellevents.com.

Fountain House
425 West 47th Street
New York, NY 10036