American Psychiatric Foundation Announces Recipients of Inaugural
Helping Hands Grants

Mental Health Programs in Underserved Communities
Supported by Grant from Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 13, 2006 – The American Psychiatric Foundation (APF) has announced three universities as the inaugural recipients of the Helping Hands Grants. The program encourages medical students to participate in community mental health service activities, particularly those targeting underserved minority communities. The grant program is administered by the American Psychiatric Foundation and supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI).

The $5,000 grants have been awarded to the following medical schools to support their community mental health programs:

• Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic Learner College of Medicine received a Helping Hands Grant for Bustin” Loose About Sharing Thoughts: A Student Mental Health Education Initiative (BLAST!). The group will launch a program for 5th grade students in East Cleveland to expand their knowledge and awareness of mental health issues and help them learn coping strategies. Medical students Beverly Jong, Christine Baran, Leonid Cherkassky, Julia Head, Carl Koch and Sherwin Yen are participating in this initiative.
• University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey received a Helping Hands Grant to develop, design and produce culturally targeted informational materials for the community that focus on mental health literacy and awareness with the integration of routine screenings for mental disorders at the New Jersey Medical School Family Health Care Center. The center is a free student-run community health center for the uninsured and underinsured citizens of Newark. Medical Student Christian Reusche is leading the initiative.
• University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine received a Helping Hands Grant for a Maternal Obstetric Outreach and Depression Screening program (MOODS) which will improve identification and treatment for mothers suffering from postpartum mood disorders in underserved populations. Medical Students Nicole James, Andree Leroy, and Jennifer Rhee are participating in this initiative.

“We are proud to support the efforts of the inaugural recipients,” said Hiromi Yoshikawa, chairman and chief executive office of Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. “Otsuka’s support of the Helping Hands Grant program is part of our ongoing commitment to help eliminate health disparities among underserved populations.”

Mental illnesses affect millions of Americans each year, yet with proper treatment, people with mental disorders can lead full and productive lives.

“APF congratulates the medical students whose innovative projects received a grant,” said Steven Rubloff, executive director of the American Psychiatric Foundation. “These students are the future of the psychiatric field, and their efforts are an important step in advancing the mental health of underserved minority populations.”

Support of the Helping Hands Grant Program is part of the Otsuka Minority Health Initiative, an on-going series of strategically integrated activities aimed at reducing inequalities in minority health care. While mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income level, a profound need exists for improved mental health education and assistance in underserved communities.

About Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI)

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI) is a successful, innovative, fast-growing healthcare company that commercializes Otsuka-discovered and other product opportunities in North America. OAPI is dedicated to improving patients’ health and the quality of their lives. The company is part of the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Group, which is comprised of 81 companies and approximately 26,000 people around the world. With 39 consolidated subsidiaries, Otsuka earned US$6.2 billion in consolidated annual revenues in fiscal 2004. For additional information, please visit www.otsuka.com.

About the American Psychiatric Foundation

The American Psychiatric Foundation is the philanthropic and educational arm of the American Psychiatric Association. The mission is to advance understanding that mental illnesses are real and can be effectively treated. For more information on the American Psychiatric Foundation, please visit www.psychfoundation.org.