The Indonesian Bagus Utomo wins the first Dr. Guislain Award 2012. The Museum Dr. Guislain and Janssen Research & Development, LLC rewarded Bagus Utomo, who was motivated by his brother’s mental illness, for his tireless work to provide resources about and fight stigma associated with schizophrenia through his organization Komunitas Peduli Skizofrenia Indonesia (Indonesia Community Care for Schizophrenia), or KPSI. KPSI is an organization that provides online information about schizophrenia and community support for patients and their families. “I am thrilled to accept the inaugural Dr. Guislain Award for ’Breaking the Chains of Stigma,’” said Utomo. “Technology has been the key to success for the organization so far. With this generous Award, I hope to build a new website with even more information, engage health care providers and add support groups for caregivers. The progress I have seen over the last 12 years makes me hopeful that we will one day live in a world no longer encumbered by mental health stigma.”

The nominations for the first Dr. Guislain Award are officially open. This new international initiative rewards organizations, individuals or projects that have made an exceptional contribution in the social or cultural field, in breaking the chains of stigma with regard to mental illness.