ADAA Wins Associations Advance America Award
for Public Education Campaign on College Campuses

"Campus Faces" Program Seeks to Raise Recognition, Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in Young People

Silver Spring, MD (June 21, 2006) - The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) won the Award of Excellence in the 2006 Associations Advance America (AAA) awards program, a national competition sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Washington, D.C.

The prestigious award recognizes associations that propel America forward with innovative programs in public education, skills training, standard setting, business and social innovation, information and knowledge creation, citizenship and community service.

ADAA was acknowledged in the public education category for its Campus Faces program, which aims to increase awareness of anxiety disorders in college-aged women. Through an American Psychiatric Foundation grant, ADAA produced educational materials and a website surrounding a Got Anxiety? theme tailored to young people. These materials offered coping strategies for stress; advice on helping a friend; an explanation of the differences between normal anxiety and anxiety disorders; and information on the causes, symptoms and treatments of such disorders. This information was distributed to more than 350 colleges and universities, sororities, Greek Life offices and college health centers.

ADAA also partnered with Active Minds, Inc., a college mental health organization, in launching a National Stress Øut Day on campuses nationwide to raise awareness of mental health and offer college students tips and activities to help manage final-exam stress.

"We are thrilled to receive this honor from ASAE," said Jerilyn Ross, MA, LICSW, president and CEO of ADAA. "Over the past year, ADAA reached out to tens of thousands of college students across the country through the Campus Faces program, educating them that anxiety disorders are real, serious and treatable. We look forward to continuing our outreach efforts to young people through this program."

"ADAA's program truly embodies the spirit of the Associations Advance America Campaign. It is an honor and an inspiration to showcase this activity as an example of the many contributions associations are making to advance American society," said Bill Bergman, CAE, president of William S. Bergman Associates and Chair of the 2005-2006 AAA Committee.

ADAA is now in the running for ASAE's Summit Award, the highest honor given to associations. Winners of that award will be announced this summer.

For more on ADAA's Campus Faces program, visit www.gotanxiety.org.

The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) is the leading national, non-profit organization dedicated to the early diagnosis, treatment and cure of anxiety disorders. ADAA offers free educational information and resources on anxiety disorders, local treatment providers, self-help groups, self-tests, clinical trials and more. ADAA is the unified voice for anxiety disorders and promotes the message that anxiety disorders are real, serious and treatable.