#1VoiceSummit

“By discussing, listening to one another and partnering together, we are stronger. Brain diseases are complex: within the brain health community we need to align and agree on the evidence so we can debunk the myths and the stigma surrounding it. It requires persistence to systematically explain our case to policy makers and to get the funding needed to make the meaningful, positive and sustainable policy change required to support people with brain health conditions. Our aim is to get parity of care for brain health within the policy arena, so that people with brain health conditions are given the best shot at living their lives to the fullest. For that, we need a leadership that is collaborative, inclusive and which is ready to listen and co-create with the community. Alone we are invisible, united we are invincible,” says Maria Brandão, Senior Manager, Global Public Affairs at Lundbeck.

This year’s speakers included leading experts in brain health, including Prof. Saxena from Harvard University and former WHO Director for Mental Health, Brad Herbert from Healthy Brains Global Initiative, Joke Jaarsma from the OneNeurology Initiative and Simone Boselli from The European Association of Rare Diseases (EURORDIS). These experts talked about the importance of collaboration and of strategy in order to position brain health.  

On day two of the #1VoiceSummit the focus was on fundraising. Speakers included representatives from the Lundbeck Foundation, Alzheimer’s Disease International, and Changing Minds Globally.

Additionally, Lundbeck’s CEO, Deborah Dunsire, joined the live Q&A in which she shared the importance of partnering with people with lived experience to make the most meaningful treatments and societal change.

The event is a great opportunity to see the challenges and opportunities from the lens of patient groups in different countries. Few organizations are organized at the international level and the event gives groups an opportunity to learn from each other and share experience through Q&A sessions and collaborative workshops. Some advocacy groups have been around longer than others and offer valuable lessons learned, while other, newer groups have gained great insight by having people with valuable fund raising and advocacy experience show them the way. 

"So often I feel that companies and those outside of the mental health arena don't deeply listen to how we can create sustainable change going forward but I felt that Lundbeck was really listening. It was great to be a part of the summit," says Anna Sackett Rountree, Director of Communications, Clubhouse International, which is a group dedicated to end social and economic isolation for people with mental illness by growing the number and quality of Clubhouse rehabilitation programs worldwide.

If you are a representative of an advocacy group who is interested in attending the #1VoiceSummit, please contact your local Lundbeck office or contact publicaffairs@lundbeck.com.