APA Foundation 2024 Impact Report - Flipbook - Page 5
A Mentally Healthy Nation: Where We Play
The “Where We Play: Nashville” event was launched in partnership with Belmont
University as the catalyst event for humanizing
mental health care for young adults. Thought
leaders in athletics and entertainment shared
authentic, vulnerable stories, highlighting the
mental health challenges even elite performers
face. Featured athletes included Michael Phelps,
Allison Schmidt, Ben Zobrist, Tony Kemp, Eric
Decker, and Kevin Dyson, alongside entertainers
Drew Baldridge, Blessing Offer, and Nicole
Britt. Discussions covered burnout, coping with
expectations, social media’s impact, and playing after injury. Over 600 registered,
and APAF reached 29 million through social media activations surrounding the event.
Partnering with the Washington Commanders
APAF partnered with the Washington Commanders to host their inaugural
“Raise Awareness for Mental Health” pregame panel for fans. The panel lineup
included Rawle Andrews Jr., and leaders from several community mental health
groups. Marcus Smith, former NFL player, shared his lived experience going
from a first-round draft pick to early retirement. Marcus is now a mental health
advocate who credits his family and former Seattle head coach Pete Carroll for
supporting him in seeking the help he needed to regain his mental health.
Research Colloquium
The 2024 Research Colloquium selected 37 mentees from diverse backgrounds,
including six international awardees from Brazil, France, the Netherlands, and
England. Additionally, nine new mentors were added to these programs, to
expand training and diversify the psychiatric research workforce pipeline.
Grants and Awards
Through the Helping Hands Grants program, and the Awards for Advancing Minority
Mental Health, the APAF supported 11 unique community initiatives providing
resources to underserved community members in 2024. Since inception, APAF has
recognized 117 community-based organizations with awards totaling $590,000.
Viswanathan Family Lifestyle Medicine and
Psychiatry Endowed Award
Established in July 2024 through an endowment by
the Viswanathan Family, this award highlights the
impact of lifestyle factors on mental and physical
well-being and illness. It aims to advance population
health by promoting dialogue on interventions like
physical activity, healthy nutrition, restorative sleep,
stress management, social connectedness, and avoiding
risky behaviors. The annual award honors significant
contributions to lifestyle-focused mental and physical health initiatives. The
inaugural award will be presented at APA’s Annual Meeting in May 2025.
