MHA to Present Highest Honor to Patrick Hendry

Mental Health America to Present Highest Honor to Patrick Hendry

Will Receive Clifford W. Beers Award at Annual Conference in Tulsa

Contact: Steve Vetzner, (703) 797-2588 or svetzner@mentalhealthamerica.net

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (September 19, 2012)—Mental Health America will award Patrick Hendry with its highest honor, the Clifford W. Beers Award, for his leadership and service to the mental health movement at the Awards Dinner of the 2012 National Zarrow Mental Health Symposium and Mental Health America Annual Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Thursday, September 20.

Each year, Mental Health America presents the Beers Award to a mental health consumer who best reflects the example set by Mental Health America founder  Clifford W. Beers in his or her efforts to improve conditions for and attitudes toward people living with mental health conditions.

A mental health advocate for more than 20 years, Hendry is the Senior Director of Consumer Advocacy at Mental Health America and is the former Director of the National Consumer Support Technical Assistance Center. Previously, he served as Executive Director of Florida Peer Network.

“Patrick Hendry has made major contributions in improving the lives of people living with mental illness,” said Dr. Wayne Lindstrom, president and CEO of Mental Health America. “His exceptional skills and leadership have empowered thousands to achieve recovery. I am proud to have him on the staff of Mental Health America.”

Those who have received Hendry’s leadership training for peers have described the experience as empowering and life-changing. He is masterful at promoting the concept of recovery to any audience, and his training was so successful it moved from Florida to many sites around the country. He has also worked with consumers in other states to start and sustain consumer-run organizations like the Florida Peer Network.

Hendry has also devoted his time and talent to the national memorial at Saint Elizabeths for psychiatric patients buried at state hospitals nationwide. He has given of his time voluntarily to present the memorial plan at national mental health conferences, work with city officials on the details of the project, and help develop a sustainable fundraising plan.

Mental Health America (www.mentalhealthamerica.net) is the nation’s largest and oldest community-based network dedicated to helping all Americans achieve wellness by living mentally healthier lives. With our 240 affiliates across the country, we touch the lives of millions—Advocating for changes in mental health and wellness policy; Educating the public & providing critical information; and delivering urgently needed mental health and wellness Programs and Services.

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