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Depression is ranked as the seventh most important cause of disease burden in low- and middle-income countries. (WHO Report 2007)
| Letter from the Director |
Dear Advocates of the GNIF, As the Executive Director of the Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation (GNIF), I oversee the operations, charitable interests, affiliations, and sponsorships of our non-profit charity organization established for the sole benefit of furthering neurological and neuropsychiatric research, patient welfare, and education, psychological, biochemical, sociological or historical in nature. Our ultimate aim is to further brain related studies, end mental health stigmatization, improve the well-being of afflicted individuals, and to promote the free and open-access distribution of brain related information.Mental health stigmatization is a devastating obstacle for the global community of afflicted individuals and the United States Surgeon General has recently identified it is a public health dilemma. In the 1999 report on mental health by the U.S. Surgeon General, stigma was identified as the single largest barrier to future progress in reducing the disease burden of mental illnesses. In addition, mental health illness is now the second leading cause of disability in the U.S., shortly lagging behind cardiovascular illness. We at the GNIF wish to educate the public that "mental health" and "mental illness" are inseparable from "physical health" and "physical illness," for the mind and body are interconnected and interdependent. Also, the impact of stigma upon individuals with mental disorders is multi-faceted and devastating, and we are developing anti-stigmatization and discrimination campaigns under the Ethics of Mental Health program. Furthermore, we support and foster biomedical studies that aim to explicate the neuropathogenesis of neuropsychiatric, neurological, and other mental health illnesses. By providing researchers with open discussion with psychiatrists, neurologists, biomedical scientists, and the general public, we aim to effectively guide current neurological and neuropsychiatric research , via both psychological and molecular interventions. Currently the neuropathogenesis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder remains largely unsolved. Treatments options attempt to non-specifically suppress the symptoms of the disorders. Only until we gain molecular insight into these disorders, can begin to target and formulate specific medical interventions. The GNIF is composed solely of volunteers passionate about our charity endeavors. We have a network of dedicated volunteer members in our organization, in administration, our informal and scholarly publications, and in our development and instructional teams. Service in the GNIF is very rewarding and provides individuals with ample opportunity to implement their neuroscience, medicine, neuropsychological, philanthropic, and ethical research, practice, and educational ideas. The GNIF recently announced it's partnership with the White House to become a Certifying Organization for the President's Volunteer Service Award, thus granting us privileges to extend and issue medals, certificates, and pins signed by the President of the United States. Aside from such honors, our noble GNIF volunteers gain enhanced social awareness, learn through active educational service, enjoy a greater sense of wellbeing, gain a healthy self-confidence, discover unique strengths and skills, build a sense of independence, and expand their social circle. I am bringing my knowledge, passion, and medical services in to our charity organization and we hope that we have provided an adequate description of our organization. We are actively seeking affiliations, partnerships, and sponsorships with individuals, private corporations, charitable organizations, government agencies, and other non-profit organizations. We responsibly recognize that given our array of momentous missions, the GNIF must have the aid of third-parties to optimally execute programs for societal benefit. For further information on volunteering, please visit Volunteer Services section. For guidelines on collaborating with or sponsoring a GNIF project or to make a donation, please visit the Support section We hope you will benefit from our organization's rich resources. Thank you. Sincerely,  SHAHEEN E LAKHAN, MS, MEd, PhD, AFACB, MICR, MD Executive Director Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation |
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