Celebrating Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy: The 2024 STARR Awards

The 2024 STARR Awards Celebration, held virtually on December 19th, brought together leaders in mental health advocacy, clinical research, and treatment innovation. Hosted by The STARR Coalition and emceed by the indomitable Matthew Shapiro, the event recognized exceptional contributions from individuals and organizations dedicated to improving mental health care and reducing stigma.

The event began with a warm welcome from Matthew, reflecting on a successful 2024 and sharing optimism for the year ahead. Erica and the STARR team provided updates on STARR initiatives, including the Site Certification program, Research Ambassadors, the Minds Ahead program, the Stop the Stigma Champions, and the growing impact of the Auditory Hallucination Simulation. She emphasized the Coalition’s commitment to collaboration in addressing challenges posed by policies like the Inflation Reduction Act.

The celebration then transitioned to the highly anticipated awards presentations:

  • Advocate of the Year Award: Presented by Jeff Winton, Founder of Rural Minds, this honor went to the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance (S&PAA). Recognized for their exceptional advocacy, S&PAA has been a steadfast leader in promoting awareness, supporting families, and driving systemic change. Accepting the award were Gordon Lavigne, Arun, and Nicole, who shared their gratitude and commitment to continuing their impactful work.
  • Site of the Year Award: Dr. Jessica Anderson of NTXCT honored Pillar Clinical Research for their outstanding dedication to study volunteer care and community engagement. Pillar’s efforts included over 100 lunch-and-learn sessions and exceptional patient satisfaction scores. Bruce Trimble accepted the award on behalf of Pillar, expressing pride in their role within the STARR community.
  • Sponsor of the Year Award: The prestigious Sponsor of the Year Award was presented by Andrew Miller, founder of Karuna Therapeutics and last year’s award recipient. Andrew shared his reflections on the impact of the STARR Awards, noting that shortly after Karuna’s recognition, the company achieved a record-breaking acquisition. This year, Andrew had the honor of presenting the award to Teva Pharmaceuticals, a company whose innovative and compassionate contributions to mental health advocacy have left a profound impact. Teva, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of generic medications, is also a leader in developing treatments for CNS disorders like schizophrenia and Tardive Dyskinesia (TD).

Andrew highlighted Teva’s groundbreaking work in advancing care and improving accessibility, noting the significance of programs like Life Effects, a patient-centered initiative featuring deeply personal, peer-driven content. Dr. Eric Hughes, Teva’s Chief Medical Officer, accepted the award on behalf of the organization, sharing how their global R&D efforts, driven by nearly 3,700 dedicated professionals, are transforming patient care. Dr. Hughes emphasized Teva’s focus on patient engagement, stigma reduction, and the discovery of innovative treatments, underscoring the shared responsibility in addressing mental health challenges.

  • Lew Yagodnik Award: Michelle Roberts presented this distinguished individual honor to Greg Hansch, Executive Director of NAMI Texas. A founding STARR member, Greg was recognized for his relentless advocacy, policy achievements, and leadership in mental health parity and community engagement.

The event concluded with heartfelt congratulations to the honorees and best wishes for the holidays. The 2024 STARR Awards celebrated the remarkable progress made in mental health advocacy and the collective efforts driving hope and change for those affected by mental illness.

Each of these honorees represents a beacon of hope, dedicating their efforts to improving the lives of individuals affected by serious mental health conditions. Their work will be highlighted in upcoming editions of The STARR Coalition’s newsletter, where we’ll dive deeper into their remarkable achievements and share their inspiring stories. For now, congratulations to all the winners for their unwavering commitment to creating a brighter future for individuals and families impacted by mental illness!  💚