company management team Douglas Colbeth philanthropy

The Colbeth Clinic, which is part of the Institute of Juvenile Research at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Medicine, was established by Doug and his wife Margaret in 2000 with a mission to raise awareness, provide early diagnosis and offer effective treatments of biological brain disorders for inner city children. These diseases include; bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia and autism. The clinic is unique in that world leading researchers work side by side with passionate clinicians to provide state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatment. While the clinic primarily serves youth in the Chicago area, its research and lobbying activities have an impact that extends well beyond the city limits.

Raising awareness and erasing the stigma associated with mental health disorders is one of the key objectives of the clinic.

"Like millions of teens, I personally experienced the quiet desperation of severe depression," says Doug Colbeth. "Fortunately, I was able to get excellent treatment before something tragic happened. This is precisely what we want to provide to others, especially those who may not have the financial means or access to best-of-class mental health services. I believe we must come out of the shadows to share our personal experiences and let our stories resonate with those among us who are, or know of someone that is suffering. Erasing the stigma will increase funding for the cause, encourage additional talented people to enter the field, and most importantly, encourage patients to seek treatments earlier. Only when we acknowledge how common mental health disorders are, can we make real progress in the treatment of these diseases."

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