Listening Well CEO Paula Comunelli Honored with Voice Award
Mental Health Advocate Recognized for Her Work Using the Power of Story to Replace Stigma and Discrimination with Respect and Unity SANTA CRUZ, Calif.--(Business Wire)-- Listening Well, a social enterprise serving the mental health field, announces that its founder and CEO, Paula Comunelli, received a Voice Award from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA). Ms. Comunelli was one of five individual recipients honored with Consumer Leadership Awards. In addition, six television productions, two documentaries and four feature films were honored on Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, Calif. The Voice Awards recognizes mental health leaders and advocates such as Ms. Comunelli, who have been instrumental in raising awareness and understanding of mental health issues and helping to ensure that people are able to access services and supports that assist recovery. The Awards also recognize writers and producers of entertainment productions that emphasize the positive journey of recovery from mental health problems. "I for one am so impressed by all that Paula has done to give voice to the issues connected with mental health issues," says 2008 Voice Awards Consumer Liaison, SAMHSA, Jennifer Brown. "I think she is a terrific choice for this award." Ms. Comunelli, who lives with "the gifts and challenges" of bipolar disorder, founded Listening Well in 2001 to develop mental health leaders who consult, facilitate, train and model behaviors that focus on personal strengths. Listening Well is a client-run organization committed to using the power of story to replace stigma and discrimination with respect and unity. A key element of the Listening Well curriculum is the Listening Well Experience (LWE), a personal exploration designed to deepen self-knowledge, enhance leadership capacity, and further the human experience. Listening Well's next major storytelling event, Stories of Hope & Healing, will be held on Friday, May 30, 2008 at Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz, Calif. Detailed information about Listening Well is available at www.listeningwell.net. Note to Editor: Paula Comunelli is available for interviews at (831) 421-9393. Attention! Business Communications Barbara Lewis, 925-600-1606 attentionbc@earthlink.net Copyright Business Wire 2008
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