Washington, D.C. — Betsy Schwartz, MSW, will be the American Psychiatric Association Foundation’s new director of the Center for Workplace Mental Health. A renowned leader in mental health advocacy, Schwartz has collaborated with organizations and philanthropists to enhance and expand their capacity to provide evidence-based mental health services for over thirty years.
The Center for Workplace Mental Health, a program of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF), provides employers with the tools, resources, and information needed to promote and support the mental health of employees and their families. The Center engages employers and their partners in reducing barriers to mental health care, raising broader mental health awareness, improving and implementing mental health programs, and designing benefits that improve employee mental health.
“Now is the time for every person in the workforce, regardless of their position or workplace setting, to have the support they need to be whole and well,” said Schwartz. “The Center for Workplace Mental Health is well-positioned to lead the effort to make this a reality across the United States and beyond. As we navigate a post-pandemic world, it’s vital that we, as a society, prioritize mental health. Together, we can ensure that our business organizations, administrative agencies, and universities find evidence-based programs and resources to support their employees. It is an honor and privilege to serve as Director of the APAF Center for Workplace Mental Health. I look forward to lending my experience and knowledge to work with an outstanding team dedicated to this purpose.”
Schwartz has extensive experience as a leader in mental health public policy. She most recently served at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, prior to which she served as CEO of Mental Health America Greater Houston for over 20 years. She has designed and implemented mental health reform through legislation as well as through organizational change.
“We are delighted to welcome Betsy Schwartz to the APA Foundation leadership team as our new Director of the APAF Center for Workplace Mental Health. Betsy has a proven track record of scaling mental health education and outreach initiatives in the workplace and achieving strategic priorities across the nonprofit sector,” said APAF Executive Director Rawle Andrews, Jr., Esq. “I look forward to working with Betsy to ensure people managers have the tools, tips, and resources they need to better manage stress and promote wellness for their teams.”
Schwartz is a senior fellow with the Harvard University Advanced Leadership Institute, where she created a partnership with the Harvard Global Mental Health Initiative, resulting in the creation of a business plan to scale the EMPOWER program. Schwartz is also a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum and W.K. Kellogg Foundation National Leadership Alliance. She received her master’s degree in social work administration from the University of Houston and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Denver.