Mission Possible Weekend Raises $250K Toward Mental Health Research
NARSAD’s Annual GALA and Scientific Symposium Draw Over 700 Attendees

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2005

The second annual Mission Possible Weekend to fund mental health research raised over $250,000 Saturday and Sunday – every dollar going directly to fund research grants. Sponsored by the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) of Greater Washington, D.C., the organization’s fundraising reception and GALA on the 16th was followed by a free public symposium on the 17th highlighting some of the latest research developments in the field of mental health.

At Saturday’s GALA, actress Margot Kidder, whose own struggle with bipolar disorder inspired her to become a national advocate for mental health care, presented NARSAD’s first Paul Wellstone Leadership Award to Senator Pete Domenici (D-NM) for his dedicated support of mental illness, especially as a champion of related legislation. The award has been created in memory of the late Minnesota senator, Paul Wellstone, who actively supported mental illness legislation throughout his career. Wellstone and Domenici worked together to sponsor parity legislation specifically targeting insurance discrimination toward the mentally ill prior to Wellstone’s death in 2002. Master of Ceremonies for the event was Frank Sesno, CNN Special Correspondent and Professor of Public Policy and Communication at George Mason University.

Some of the latest research developments made possible by NARSAD grants were presented to over 500 attendees at Sunday’s free public scientific symposium, Mission Possible: An Afternoon with the Experts. The program was moderated by Kay Redfield Jamison, Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Jamison is a published, best-selling author and expert in mental illness whose unique perspective stems from her own struggles with bipolar disorder. Presenters included Husseini K. Manji, M.D., National Institute of Mental Health (affective disorders); Daniel S. Pine, M.D., National Institute of Mental Health (childhood psychiatric disorders); Adelaide S. Robb, M.D., George Washington University’s Children’s National Medical Center (childhood and adult eating disorders); and Daniel R. Weinberger, M.D., National Institute of Mental Health (schizophrenia).

As reported by the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 44 million Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. Less than one-third, however, receive any mental health services and only 7 percent of all healthcare expenditures in the US are designated for mental health disorders.

NARSAD works to bridge the gap between the severity of this public health issue and its lack of funding by raising and distributing much needed funds for scientific research. NARSAD grants make it possible for scientists to explore the causes, cures, treatments, and prevention of more than 25 psychiatric illnesses, including schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, sleep disorders, ADHD, autism, and epilepsy.

The Mission Possible Weekend represents a continued presence by NARSAD within the Greater Washington, D.C. area following a successful 2004 debut. As with every NARSAD fundraising event across the country – annual events are held in New York, California and Florida – every dollar raised at the 2005 Mission Possible events will go directly to fund research grants.