McLean Hospital & DB Recovery+ to Honor Mental Health Heroes During Gala Event

June 21, 2019

McLean Hospital, the largest psychiatric affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and Britain’s DB Recovery Resources (DB Recovery+) are honored to announce the recipients of the first international Deconstructing Stigma Awards. Political statesman Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe and journalist Camilla Tominey are among the honorees.

The awards are named for McLean Hospital’s advocacy program, Deconstructing Stigma: Changing Attitudes About Mental Health. Like DB Recovery+, Deconstructing Stigma is focused on reducing stigma around behavioral health and substance use disorders. The awards are a celebration of increasing mental health advocacy and improving access to care through professional and public education.

The Deconstructing Stigma Awards will be bestowed upon international clinical leaders and organizations who have passionately committed to improving the lives of individuals living with behavioral and or substance use disorders. The ceremony will take place during a gala event on June 27, 2019, at the Tower Hotel in London.

“This year’s inaugural award winners are unyielding in their commitment to breaking the barriers that too often prevent individuals from seeking care for mental health concerns,” said Adriana Bobinchock, co-founder of Deconstructing Stigma. “Fear and stigma are still too prevalent when it comes to psychiatric and substance use disorders, but through efforts like Deconstructing Stigma, DB Recovery+, and this year’s award winners, we are making a significant difference in the public perception of behavioral and mental health.”

Deconstructing Stigma participant Dimple
Deconstructing Stigma campaign participants like Dimple are bravely telling their stories to help change attitudes about mental health

Awardees include:

  • Ed Day, Birmingham University, the UK government’s new recovery champion
  • Dr. Michael Gormley, nearly 50 years supporting addicted patients
  • Lord [Clive] Brooke of Alverthorpe, House of Lords
  • Ralph Peake, member of the House of Keys (Isle of Man parliament)
  • Peter and Ann Stoke and David Raynes, National Drug Prevention Alliance
  • James Brown, Hall Brown legal firm
  • Louise Stanger, interventionist and author
  • Professor John Kelly, Harvard Medical School, Recovery Research Institute
  • Professor David Best, Sheffield Hallam University
  • Jackie Schickler, therapist (posthumous)
  • Huseyin Djemil, Green Apple Consulting
  • Camilla Tominey, associate editor, The Telegraph
  • Tristan Millington-Drake, Action on Addiction
  • Bill Hughes, Mount Carmel rehab
  • Gloucester House, Salvation Army

“Each of the Deconstructing Stigma awardees have broken down barriers that have helped millions who once struggled with mental health and addiction issues,” said Deirdre Boyd, founder of DB Recovery Resources. “This award symbolizes the enormous efforts that these honorable people have made. Everything they have accomplished brings us one step closer to breaking the stigma, and even more importantly, provides the best help possible to people who need it.”

Deirdre Boyd has worked adamantly and courageously on substance use advocacy for over 20 years. She serves as a leader in the field of recovery from addiction. Boyd publishes a daily addiction-recovery newsletter and the monthly Recovery Plus journal. She holds the annual DB Recovery+ UKESAD conference, during which the Awards will be held.

Boyd has also spoken at the All-Party Parliamentary Drugs Misuse Group, the APPG on alcohol and the APPG on children and cannabis. Her book, Addiction & Recovery: Self-Help for Friends, Families and Addicts, was translated into seven languages. She serves on the board of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (UK) as well as the UK branch of the IC&RC international certification board for 50,000 alcohol and drug professionals worldwide.

The Deconstructing Stigma: Changing Attitudes About Mental Health campaign works toward raising awareness and diminishing the stigma around mental health and substance use. An international body of work that has united people from every continent through the power of storytelling and knowledge, Deconstructing Stigma is changing the world one story at a time.

Media Requests

Journalist or member of the media? We are available 24/7 for media requests.