Deadline:

Oct 14, 2009 - Closed

Program Area:

Vulnerable Populations

Purpose:

Mental health is critical to overall health and wellbeing. Serious mental illness, such as major depression and schizophrenia, is a leading cause of disability worldwide, yet only a small fraction of people in need of treatment have access to care in their communities. Many more are subject to neglect and abuse of their human and civil rights whether living on the streets or locked in an institution. One of the first steps to improving individual and community well-being is to break down the stigmas that have plagued the field for far too long. Success in mental health depends upon the contributions and commitment of the entire community and a willingness to break the mold.

Rethinking Mental Health: Improving Community Wellbeing, an online, open source competition co-sponsored by RWJF's Vulnerable Populations Portfolio and Changemakers, challenges organizations to explore innovations that allow individuals, families, communities and society to move past narrow perceptions of mental health and expand our understanding and collective involvement in finding solutions.

To learn more about how RWJF and Changemakers have framed this issue, read the Welcome Letter from RWJF Team Director Jane Isaacs Lowe.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria:

The competition is open to all types of organizations (charitable organizations, private companies or public entities) from all countries.

To learn more about competition eligibility and selection criteria, visit the competition guidelines and criteria.

Key Dates:

• Entry Period—Entries are accepted through October 14, 2009, 5 p.m. EST.
• Finalist Selection—There will be a five-week review period following the entry deadline during which online review and discussion continues. Simultaneously, the Rethinking Mental Health judging panel will narrow the entry pool to approximately 10–15 finalists.
• Voting—The finalists will be announced on November 23, 2009, after which there will be a two-week period for the Changemakers community to vote online to select three competition winners.
• Winners Announced—Three competition winners will be announced December 16, 2009.

Total Award:

• Three competition winners will each receive $5,000 from Changemakers.