Dr. Nelson M. Handal, board certified child, adolescent, & adult psychiatrist and his team at Dothan Behavioral Medicine Clinic (DBMC) & Harmonex have been awarded the 2008 Excellence in Community Mental Health Services Award by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

This national recognition is given on behalf of the one-quarter million members of NAMI in recognition of exemplary efforts of an individual or organization who have worked to reach out to the many who suffer with mental illness.

Dothan Behavioral Medicine Clinic has been recognized for creating greater access to mental health services for children and families throughout the region.

Without Dothan Behavioral Medicine many would not have access to the highly specialized child, adolescent, & adult mental health care offered at the clinic.

DBMC is the only facility in the area with two board certified child and adolescent psychiatrists on staff. They are also the only practice in the region offering the latest in cutting edge mental health care technologies as well as clinical research.

Dr. Handal and his team at Harmonex are also being recognized for creating a unique state-of-the-art computerized intake and assessment technology known as CliniCom. This technology is now being used around the nation to deliver a higher level of care. Harmonex is a bio-technology and clinical research organization for which Dr. Handal serves as Chairman and Medical Director.

His team has developed a forward thinking approach to behavioral medicine and believe strongly in their ability to make a difference. He has made it his mission to develop new and innovative approaches to outpatient mental health care, well into the future.

Dr. Handal says, “Everyone at DBMC and Harmonex strives to make a lasting impact on our community through their dedication and commitment to excellence in behavioral medicine.

What propels us forward is the heartfelt spirit of advocacy within our staff and the obligation to deliver a superior level of care to those we serve. It is only through Education - Support - Advocacy – Awareness – Research – and the use of new clinical technologies that all of us can help ease the challenges that are faced in mental health today.

Our friends and family members living with mental illness today understand that we as caregivers are better prepared to enhance their quality of life when these factors are all working in concert.”

The award was presented in Orlando, Florida on Monday June 16, 2008.