At AstraZeneca, our mission is to help patients live fuller and healthier lives.
We understand how important support can be for patients, as well as their families. That is why we have championed the establishment of community-based programs that promote mental health awareness with patient health organizations around the country.
Living with mental illness
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COPE - Caring, Outreach, Partnership, Education (www.CopingWithMentalIllness.com
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COPE - Caring, Outreach, Partnership, Education is an educational booklet that provides practical and useful information for understanding and coping with mental illness on a day-to-day basis. The material is available in English and Spanish. -
NAMI Connection (www.nami.org)
NAMI Connection support groups are for people who are living with mental illness. The meetings are intended for people with any mental illness who seek to learn from others’ experiences, share coping strategies, and offer encouragement, understanding, and support. Groups are available around the country, and will soon be available in every state in both Spanish and English. -
Peer-to-Peer (www.nami.org/p2p)
Peer-to-Peer is a nine-week experiential course on the topic of mental illness for any person with a psychiatric diagnosis. In addition to providing information on the biological bases of the major mental illnesses, the program includes information on emotions, advocacy and empowerment; on coping strategies; and on relapse prevention planning and adherence encouragement. It’s taught by mentors who have personally experienced mental illness.
Mental health issues for college students
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Half of Us (www.halfofus.com)
Half of Us is a campaign addressing mental health issues in the college population, ages 18 and above, through education and awareness. This multipronged, prosocial campaign is being run through the mtvU network and seeks to direct the way millions of college students think about potentially life-threatening mental health issues and influence their behavior accordingly. It’s the largest, most comprehensive mental health social outreach to college students.
Bipolar disorder in families
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The Mental Health Family Tree (www.MentalHealthFamilyTree.org)
The Mental Health Family Tree program raises awareness of the possible family connection of bipolar disorder. Through the use of a simple web-based tool, individuals can map out their family’s history of mental illness and use a print out of a family tree to take with them on their next doctor’s visit.
All of these programs are important, but what is most important is working with your healthcare professional to get the care that is most appropriate for your individual needs.
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