Looking for Answers May 17, 2016

Podie Lynch, Lynn Nicholas, Alexandra Herzan, Kitty De Chazal, Carolyn MacKenzie, Lorna

Hyde Graev, Anne Mai, Ilyse Wilpon, and Pat Begley.

Fountain House, winner of the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, held its annual Symposium and Luncheon in the Grand Ballroom of The Pierre, on Monday, May 2, 2016. The topic for this year's event was "Suicide: Looking for Answers." There is one death by suicide it the United States every 12.3 minutes, tragically ending the lives of more than 38,000 Americans each year. According to the Center for Disease Control, people with mental illness account for the overwhelming majority of deaths by suicide. "Suicide is a preventable tragedy. Our programs give people with serious mental illness a reason for living," said Fountain House President Kenneth J. Dudek. Every day, hundreds of members, people living with serious mental illness, choose to come to

Fountain House to contribute their talents, learn new skills, access opportunities, and forge friendships.

Sheila Nevins, Kenn Dudek, Maria Oquendo, MD, Rosie O'Donnell, Thomas Joiner, PhD, Kevin

Hines, and Ralph Aquila, MD For the past 13 years years, the Fountain House Symposium and Luncheon has been New York's leading lay mental health forum. This year's three excellent panelists included: Maria Oquendo, MD, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University, President-elect of the American Psychiatric Association and recipient of the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness; Thomas Joiner, PhD, Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Florida State University and author of Why People Die by Suicide and Myths About Suicide; and Kevin Hines, mental health advocate and author of Cracked, Not Broken: Surviving and Thriving After a Suicide Attempt and recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Council of Behavioral Health. Consuelo Mack, Managing Editor and Anchor of Consuelo Mack WealthTrack, was the dynamic master of ceremonies. Sheila Nevins, President of HBO Documentary Films, received the Fountain House Humanitarian Award. The award was presented by her good friend, comedian, actress, and philanthropist Rosie O'Donnell. Ms. Nevins has received more Primetime Emmy Awards than anyone in history. She is the executive producer of the AcademyAward® winning documentary Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1, Boy Interrupted, and the upcoming film Every Brilliant Thing, all of which courageously explore the challenging topic of suicide.

Sheila Nevins

The Fountain House Symposium and Luncheon was founded by Lorna Hyde Graev and Lynn Nicholas, PsyD, to advance community knowledge about mental illness and reduce the associated stigma and to raise vital funds for Fountain House's innovative employment, education, housing, and wellness programs. The dedicated Chairs who worked tirelessly to ensure this event's success were: Patricia Begley, Kitty de Chazal, Alexandra A. Herzan, Podie Lynch, Carolyn B. MacKenzie, Anne Mai, and Ilyse Wilpon. Camille Tibaldeo served as Program Chair.

Over the past seven decades, Fountain House has inspired the creation of hundreds of similar programs in 34 countries that serve more than 100,000 people annually. To learn more about Fountain House, visit: www.fountainhouse.org.

Sheila Nevins and Rosie O’Donnell Sydney Shuman and Gail Gilbert

Maria Eugenia Campagna, Maritza Chateau, Kitty de Chazal and Missy and Antonella Calastri Rennie Taylor

Beth Marquis, Juliana Terian, and Carol DeLouvrier

Caroline Camus and Gail Gasto Liz Berens and Gillian Shepherd Mestre

Alice Cynn, Florence Peyrelongue, and Tracy Florack

Averil Payson Meyer and Rebecca de Kertanguy Elsie Vance and Lorna Nancy Hoguet Hyde Graev

Barry Osborn, Payne Middleton, and Linda de Roulet

Jean Shafiroff and Ann Rapp Eames Yates and Pam Taylor

Hope Winthrop, Jim Torrey, Jackie Drexel, and Nick Drexel

Christopher Walling and Marion de Vogel Dana Buchman and Alan Wilkinson

Linn Tanzman, Kathy Ganz, and Renee Steinberg

Amanda Haynes-Dale Nancy Missett and Caroline Dean

Patricia Beilman, George Roach, Carolyn MacKenzie, and Maria Roach

Ann Barish, Marjorie Federbush, and Diane van Amerongen and Marjorie Patricia Lynch Reed Gordon

Debbie Bancroft Angela Clofine and Neda Navab Frances Beatty Adler

Nicole Miller and Felicia Taylor Mary Rutherfurd

April Gow, Kirk Henckels, and Fernanda Kellogg

Mark Gilbertson and Elizabeth Peabody Barbara Anderson Terry