FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 27, 2009

Webster University Hosts Media Mental Health Forum

Congressman Russ Carnahan, KSDK Channel 5, Former Governor Bob Holden and Webster University collaborate to bring attention to mental health in St. Louis

St. Louis (March 27, 2009) —"Webster University, KSDK-TV (NBC-Channel 5) and The Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC) are presenting Picture This: A Local Approach to Mental Health in St. Louis, Friday, March 27, at the Webster University campus in the downtown St. Louis Old Post Office, 815 Olive Blvd. The event is designed to bring together St. Louis mental health stakeholders and media representatives to identify ways to increase public awareness of mental health in the St. Louis community. Distinguished participants include Congressman Russ Carnahan and Bob Holden, former Missouri Gov. and founder of Webster University's Holden Public Policy Forum.

"This meeting in St. Louis is important for advancing needed mental health treatment throughout the area. While I have been involved with many health initiatives in the past, I am advocating changes across the board that provide a multitude of greater assistance in treatment, prevention, and research.  That work must include, Mental Health," said Congressman Carnahan.

A St. Louis media panel will include Jennifer Blome and Art Holliday of KSDK-TV, Charles Brennan of KMOX, John Carlton of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Aimee Levitt of the Riverfront Times, Sue Hegger of The Beacon and Joseph Kenny of the St.  Louis Review.

Following the media panel, the 40-plus mental health organizations represented will help to develop recommendations for local media coverage of mental health issues and awareness through news, public affairs, editorial and PSA programming.

KSDK Channel 5 will stream the event live on the KSDK Web site at: http://www.ksdk.com/video/live/live_3.aspx. Additionally, KSDK will archive the webcast and develop a mental health community resource section on the Web site.

"The KSDK news team is committed to reporting on issues associated with mental health and mental illness to helping to raise greater awareness," said Mike Shipley, news director, KSDK-TV. "We recognize the important role media can play in addressing health issues that affect our community. The KSDK Web site will serve as a place to obtain information about mental health and community resources."

The event is the fourth in a series of such local community meetings. The first was held in Detroit, followed by Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. Additional meetings will take place in the coming months in Denver and Orlando. The Picture This: Local approach series is supported by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.

"Local communities each have their own needs with respect to what gets communicated by the media about mental illness. Bringing together policymakers, leading experts in the mental health field and the media is key to needed change. We are grateful to KSDK, Webster University, Congressman Russ Carnahan and Former Governor Bob Holden for stepping up as leaders by spearheading this meeting," said EIC's Brian Dyak.

A non-profit organization, the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. was founded in 1983 by leaders of the entertainment industry to bring the power of the industry to bear on health and social issues. The organization is considered one of the premiere success stories in entertainment education and information resources for entertainment creators, through innovative and time-proven services and methods of "encouraging the art of making a difference" from within the industry.

EIC addresses health issues such as drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and addiction; firearm safety and injury prevention; sun safety and skin cancer prevention; human trafficking; terrorism and homeland security; mental health and mental illness, including bipolar disorder, depression and suicide; diabetes; seat belt use and traffic safety; and HIV/AIDS prevention. For more information, please visit www.eiconline.org.

The Entertainment & Media Communication Institute was formed by EIC to educate and provide information resources for the entertainment industry's creative community and television, online and print media journalists relative to health and social issues, to enhance their capability of addressing such issues with accuracy and authenticity. The Institute coordinates a multi-disciplinary faculty of experts knowledgeable about various health and social issues and about health communications theory and practices.

For more information on the webcast or the program, contact Christine Wells Eason, director of media relations, Webster University, 314-968-5976 or eason@webster.edu.

With its home campus in St. Louis, Webster University (www.webster.edu) is a worldwide institution committed to delivering high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence. Founded in 1915, Webster offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs through five schools and colleges, and a global network of more than 100 campuses. Its 20,000-plus student population represents almost 150 nationalities. The University's core values include excellence in teaching, joining theory and practice, small class sizes, and educating students to be lifelong independent learners, fully prepared to participate in an increasingly international society.

Since opening its first campus overseas in Geneva in 1978, Webster has become a recognized leader and innovator in global education, with an international presence that now includes campuses in London; Vienna; Amsterdam and Leiden, the Netherlands; Shanghai, Shenzhen and Chengdu, China; and Bangkok and Cha-am, Thailand. Webster also has educational partnerships with universities in Mexico and Japan.