Leadership Exchange: Advancing Equity in Behavioral Health

Vic Armstrong, MSW
Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
CBHL Board Member

Victor Armstrong serves as Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In addition, he is the National Director of Soul Shop for Black Churches, a workshop that teaches faith leaders how to minister to congregants that may be dealing with suicidal desperation. Victor previously served as Chief Health Equity Officer for North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services, with responsibility for leading the overarching strategy and operational goals to promote health equity, diversity, and inclusion across all the agency’s health and human services. Victor has also served as ‪Director of the NC Division of Mental Health, with responsibility and oversight of the public community-based mental health, intellectual and other developmental disabilities, substance use, and traumatic brain injury system in North Carolina. Prior to his NC state government roles, Victor spent six years as Vice President of Behavioral Health with Atrium Health. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Victor has over 30 years of experience in human services, primarily dedicated to building and strengthening community resources to serve individuals who have been historically marginalized. ‬‬‬‬He is a nationally recognized speaker on issues regarding health equity and access to healthcare, particularly as it relates to individuals living with mental health challenges.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Victor currently serves on the steering committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. He also serves on the Board of Directors for RI International as well as the Board of Directors for I2I Center for integrative health. He is a member of the Board of Advisors for East Carolina University School of Social Work and is the host of the “Strong Talk” podcast.

Victor’s awards and recognitions include:

• Living Waters Annual Mental Health Summit 2022 “Lifetime Mental Health Champion” Award
• National Association of Social Workers North Carolina (NASW-NC) 2022 Social Worker of the Year
• Addiction Professionals of NC (APNC) 2021 DEI Leadership & Impact Award
• Mental Health America’s 2021 H. Keith Brunnemer, Jr. Award for “Outstanding Mental Health Leadership”
• Black Mental Health Symposium 2019 Mental Health Advocate of the Year
• East Carolina University School of Social Work 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NC, 2012 Mental Health Professional of the Year

Victor graduated, Magna Cum Laude, from North Carolina Central University with a bachelor’s degree in business management and received his MSW from East Carolina University. He is the husband of Dr. Charletta Armstrong and the father of three sons, Carter, Alonzo, and Victor Jr.

Arthur C. Evans, Jr., Ph.D.
CEO of American Psychological Association

Described as a visionary and transformational leader, policymaker and health care innovator, Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, is CEO of the American Psychological Association, the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. Evans previously served in public policy positions in Philadelphia and Connecticut, where he led the transformation of their behavioral health systems and their approaches to serving a wide range of individuals with complex needs. Evans has employed science, research, community activism, spirituality, traditional clinical care, policy and cross-system collaborations to change the status quo around behavioral health. He has held faculty appointments at Yale University’s and the University of Pennsylvania’s Schools of Medicine, and is the author or co-author of over 60 peer-reviewed research articles, chapters, reviews and editorials. Over the years Evans has received national and international recognition, including prestigious awards in government, healthcare service, visionary leadership, actionable advocacy, equity and social justice.

Moderator

Marcy Melvin, MA
Senior Vice President of Clinical Policy and Deputy Director of The Hackett Center for Mental Health at Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute
CBHL Board President

Marcy Melvin is a pivotal executive with over 25 years of experience in behavioral health policy, training, and clinical practice. As a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas her experience includes providing direct clinical and supervisory services to children, youth, parents, and young adults in various clinical settings including residential, in-home, outpatient, private practice, primary, secondary, and post-secondary locations. Marcy is extremely passionate about advancing health equity and reducing disparities and disproportionality; this has been a culmination of her life’s work in various clinical, organizational and systems settings.

Marcy has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Fisk University.