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Montgomery—At an awards ceremony in Washington, D. C., on October 21, 2000, Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Commissioner Kathy Sawyer received the 2000 Lilly Reintegration Award for government. According to information provided by Eli Lilly and Company, a global, research-based pharmaceutical corporation, the reintegration awards are given in recognition of "admirable efforts to destigmatize mental illness, which have paved the way to help reintegrate persons with schizophrenia and related disorders into their communities."

Commissioner Sawyer was nominated by NAMI Alabama (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), a family and consumer advocacy group that promotes treatment, research and education. The award is given to a small number of people from across the nation who have exhibited extraordinary commitment to education and community living goals.

According to Commissioner Sawyer, "I am very flattered and humbled by this special recognition, especially knowing that I was nominated by my peers, families and consumers dealing with serious and persistent mental illnesses." She received the award at a special ceremony held at the Evermay Mansion in Washington, D.C., attended by health care professionals and patient advocates from across the country.

Sawyer received the honorary award for government, one of three categories that also included public eye and journalism. Completing the slate of honorary award winners this year were U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, M.D., also an Alabamian, and Geoff Stephens, a producer for Dateline NBC. Last year’s recipients were Mrs. Tipper Gore, wife of presidential candidate Al Gore, Dr. Steven E. Hyman, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Shawn Hubler, Los Angeles Times columnist.

"I am so flattered to be in such distinguished company, " Sawyer said. "I am amazed and sincerely grateful that Eli Lilly and Company, the distinguished panel of psychiatric professionals who served as judges and my good NAMI friends and colleagues would consider the work we are doing in Alabama worthy of such a special tribute and positive recognition. I hope that this award will add impetus to our education efforts and that all Alabamians will take note and take pride in the respect and dignity this brings to our state, to mental health consumers and their families," she said.

One of her first acts as commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation was to establish a Community Education Advisory Committee, which includes news media representatives, consumers, family members, service providers and community leaders from around the state. Sawyer also successfully responded to Governor Don Siegelman’s call to bring settlement to a 30-year-old mental health lawsuit in Alabama. "A major component of the settlement agreement is to make widespread distribution of the facts about mental illness, mental retardation and substance abuse problems," Sawyer said.