Demi Lovato, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. And Leading Advocacy Organizations Call On Americans To Join Be Vocal Initiative By Speaking Up For Mental Health

Initiative evolves to offer additional ways for Americans to use their voice to make a difference

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Sunovion), five leading mental health advocacy organizations and singer, songwriter and mental health advocate Demi Lovato are calling on Americans to join the Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health initiative by using their voices to make a difference in mental health. In response to community feedback, Be Vocal offers additional ways for people to get involved, help advance mental health in America and showcase the collective passion and power of the mental health community.

“Tomorrow I will join other mental health advocates in our nation’s capital as we speak up to raise the volume and urgency for real change in how we treat mental health in this country”

Lovato will attend the National Council for Behavioral Health’s annual Hill Day on Tuesday where she will share her personal story with hundreds of advocates and meet with U.S. legislators to discuss the state of mental health in America.

“Tomorrow I will join other mental health advocates in our nation’s capital as we speak up to raise the volume and urgency for real change in how we treat mental health in this country,” said Lovato. “Participating in Hill Day is just one of many ways to get involved. I am hopeful that others are empowered to speak up and spark change in their communities. Together, we can break the silence around mental health in America.”

“Over time, I’ve learned to live well with bipolar disorder, but there were moments in the process when I felt isolated and alone,” said Lovato. “Being vocal helped me get the support I needed and connected me with a community of brave and bold mental health advocates. I want others to know their voice matters – so don’t wait, speak up now.”

New tools and inspiration for becoming a mental health advocate are now available on the initiative’s website, www.BeVocalSpeakUp.com, including information about 10 distinct ways to make a difference:

1. Help a Friend in Need: Learn the warning signs on social media that a friend might be in emotional distress and how to help them.

2. Get Screened: Take a mental health screener online to understand more about your mental health. Following the screening, you will be provided with information, resources and tools to discuss your results with a healthcare professional.

3. Take a Mental Health First Aid Training: Sign up for Mental Health First Aid, an in-person training that teaches you how to help people living with a mental health condition or in a crisis.

4. Be Vocal on Campus: Learn more about how you can Be Vocal for mental health and speak up within your campus community. You can use a self-screening tool, show videos at events on campus, write a letter about the importance of mental health support on campus and so much more.

5. Attend a Support Group Meeting: Locate a support group in your community or online to find hope and support and to help others.

6. Check out an Advocacy Action Center: Visit an online Advocacy Action Center to educate yourself about issues affecting individuals living with mood disorders and take action. Tell your story, find your elected officials, learn about the value of peer support services and more.

7. Sign a Petition to Support Early Intervention: Help get everyone talking about mental health issues the same way we talk about other health conditions, and show your support for early intervention.

8. Increase Understanding of Living with a Mental Health Condition: Request a free, 90-minute presentation given by an individual with a mental health condition for your group, club or company, or ask about being trained to become a presenter.

9. Participate in a Walk to Raise Awareness: Sign up for and participate in a local walk, form a team or encourage your company or group to become a sponsor.

10. Support Legislative Action: Learn how you can be an advocate and use your voice and share your story to help support legislative action.

For more information, visit www.BeVocalSpeakUp.com.

About Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health

Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health is a national initiative in partnership with Demi Lovato, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, The JED Foundation, Mental Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National Council for Behavioral Health and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. The initiative is designed to empower adults living with mental health conditions to speak up when talking with their support team and to encourage everyone to speak up as a community to advance mental health in America. The Be Vocal initiative evolved out of The Mental Health Listening & Engagement Tour supported by Sunovion in 2014. The Tour connected Demi with top mental health advocacy organizations and helped her become a stronger, more informed advocate.

About Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato is a platinum-selling recording artist, songwriter, actor, New York Times best-selling author, beauty professional and an inspiration to millions. Her passion for raising awareness of issues surrounding mental health and personal empowerment has touched thousands of lives.

About the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)

DBSA is the leading peer-directed national organization focusing on the two most prevalent mental health conditions: depression and bipolar disorder.

About The JED Foundation

JED is a leading national non-profit organization that works to promote emotional health and prevent suicide among college students and young adults.

About Mental Health America (MHA)

MHA is the nation’s leading community-based non-profit dedicated to addressing mental health and mental illness before Stage 4, the most critical points in the disease process.

About the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

About the National Council for Behavioral Health (The National Council)

The National Council is the unifying voice of America’s community mental health and addictions treatment organizations.

About Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Sunovion)

Sunovion is a leading pharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing therapeutic products that advance the science of medicine in the Psychiatry, Neurology and Respiratory disease areas to improve the lives of patients and their families.

Sunovion, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., is headquartered in Marlborough, Mass. More information about Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. is available at www.sunovion.com.

For a copy of this release, visit Sunovion’s web site at www.sunovion.com