NEUROSCIENCE

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI) shares the common vision of trade organizations and advocacy groups dedicated to improving the mental well-being of all people. The following are some of the neuroscience programs and organizations that OAPI supports.

·           The American Psychiatric Foundation’s Awards for Advancing Minority Mental Health and Helping Hands Programs

OAPI proudly supports the American Psychiatric Foundation's (APF), Awards for Advancing Minority Mental Health and the Helping Hands Grant programs. APF is the philanthropic and educational arm of the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

The Awards for Advancing Minority Mental Health recognizes psychiatrists, other health professionals, mental health programs and other organizations that have undertaken innovative and supportive efforts to:

Raise awareness of mental illness in underserved minority communities, the need for early recognition, the availability of treatment and how to access it, and the cultural barriers to treatment. Increase access to quality mental health services for underserved minorities Improve the quality of care for underserved minorities, particularly those in the public health system or with severe mental illness.

The Helping Hands Grant Program encourages medical students to participate in community mental health service activities, particularly those focused on underserved populations.
The program seeks to raise awareness of mental illness and the importance of early recognition, and builds an interest among medical students in psychiatry and in working in underserved communities.

For more information on the APF Awards for Advancing Minority Mental Health or the Helping Hands Program, visit www.PsychFoundation.org , or call 703.907.8517.

·         Mental Health Association of Montgomery County, Maryland
OAPI sponsors mental well-being educational programs, such as "Stress in the Workplace", "Schizophrenia", and other seminars provided by the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County, Maryland, as well their multi-cultural programs.

·         Mental Health America (formerly the National Mental Health Association) is a private, non-profit, United Way organization. The mission of the Association is to provide education, advocacy and direct service around issues of mental health and mental illness to area residents.

·         NAMI
OAPI provides sponsorship support for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), on a local as well as national level. In addition, Otsuka and BMS together sponsor NAMI's Family-to-Family Program, a peer program that offers support to families and caregivers of consumers with serious mental illness, as well as their multi-cultural summit and their annual meeting.

NAMI is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illness, which has become known as the nation's voice on mental illness.

Additional neuroscience organizations that OAPI supports include:

o        The National Alliance for Autism Research

o        World Federation of Mental Health

o        Threshold Services

·           Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

CARDIOVASCULAR

OAPI is committed to supporting trade organizations and advocacy groups dedicated to eradicating cardiovascular disease. The following are some of the cardiovascular disease programs and organizations that OAPI supports.

·         American Heart Association
Each year, OAPI sponsors the American Heart Association's Physicians Reception, a gathering of cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons. In addition, OAPI is a water sponsor of the AHA's Annual Heart Walk, providing Crystal Geyser water to everyone involved in the Walk.

Additional cardiovascular organizations that OAPI supports include:

o        American College of Cardiology

o        Vascular Disease Foundation

o        Heart Failure Society of America

In addition, OAPI sponsors numerous educational programs and conferences to share information with physicians and other healthcare professionals.

GASTROINTESTINAL

Otsuka is a President's Corporate Circle member of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America.


MINORITY HEALTH DISPARITIES INITIATIVE

Otsuka is focused on eliminating health disparities in underserved populations via a series of strategically integrated activities to improve the quality of and access to healthcare for underserved populations.  Some of the programs we currently support include:  

• The annual Lifesavers Dinner, dedicated to raising greater public awareness about suicide. The event, hosted by The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, also provides significant financial support for the Foundation’s research and education programs.
• CPR Anytime for Friends and Family, a program run by the American Heart Association which targets underserved communities in the Washington, D.C. area.
• Awards for Advancing Minority Mental Health and the Helping Hands Awards Program, both of which we support through a grant to the American Psychiatric Foundation
• The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating the disparities related to cardiovascular disease in all people of color
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the nation’s leading patient-directed organization focusing on the most prevalent mental illnesses; depression and bipolar disorder
• The annual Public Service Announcement Campaign on behalf of the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless
• The Montgomery County Mental Health Association's newest initiative: N*Common (New Capacity & Outreach for Multicultural Mental health Opportunities Now) which aids our growing multicultural population in need of mental health services
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Multicultural Summit which brought together advocates from across the nation to address the current disparities in mental health care that affect communities of color
• The National Medical Association's Project Impact program
• NeedyMeds, a nonprofit organization helping people who cannot afford medicine or healthcare costs by funding a flyer that explains how to use their website to find assistance
• Involvement in the PhRMA Philanthropy Committee
• Special Olympics local events

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

OAPI supports the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless with periodic PSA Campaigns on homelessness in Montgomery County and participates in their annual walk.

OAPI also supports The Center for social Leadership, The Japan America Student Conference, The Japanese Americans' Care Fund, The Japanese Association of Washington DC, The Montgomery Area Science Fair, Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Foundation, The Rockville Consortium for Science, Inc., Suburban Hospital and many more.