Cynthia de las Fuentes, PhD President at American Psychological Association | Official website
Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, CEO of the American Psychological Association (APA), has been recognized with the Society of Biological Psychiatry’s Humanitarian Award for his significant contributions to improving mental health care and advocating for individuals suffering from mental illness.
The Society of Biological Psychiatry, an organization committed to enhancing the understanding of biological mechanisms and treatment of psychiatric disorders, presents this award annually to individuals who have shown exceptional service and advocacy for mental illness. Past recipients include former CBS News Correspondent Mike Wallace and former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I. The award was presented to Evans at the society’s annual meeting on May 10 in Austin, Texas.
Evans was honored for his lifelong work aimed at helping the nation rethink its approach to mental health. According to his nomination letter, "In his vision, a population health framework would improve mental health care by reconceptualizing who can provide and receive help, identifying opportunities to intervene at the earliest moments of psychological distress, and not limiting interventions only to those with a formal diagnosis."
Throughout his career, Evans has championed health equity and led numerous initiatives designed to broaden the paradigm for mental health in the United States. Under his leadership, APA has initiated efforts to increase access to services via telepsychology—particularly in rural communities—to promote research that better addresses social determinants of health, confront systemic and structural bias within psychology field and ensure that all people—especially those at society's margins—have optimal opportunity to achieve health and wellness.
“For me, the rewarding part of my career comes with the knowledge that my work can improve people’s lives,” said Evans. “I love being a psychologist and knowing that we can use psychological science and knowledge to make our society a better and healthier place. This is what energizes me to continue pushing for positive change—today and in the days ahead.”
