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.
SOURCE CIGNA Behavioral Health
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Related links:
http://www.cignabehavioral.com
http://www.namimn.org
CONTACT:
Julie Greely of CIGNA Behavioral Health,
+1-952-996-2519, Julie.Greely@cigna.com
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