Washington, D.C. — The American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF) is proud to announce the winners of the 2023 Helping Hands Grants. Since 2005, the Helping Hands Grants program has awarded over $400,000 in support of psychiatry students addressing mental health and substance use issues through research. Each chosen grantee is awarded up to $5,000 annually. Funded projects are created and managed by medical students and can be conducted in partnership with community agencies, or in conjunction with ongoing medical school outreach activities.
The program was established to encourage medical students to participate in community service activities, particularly those focused on underserved populations; raise awareness of mental health conditions and the importance of early recognition; and build interest among medical students in the psychiatric field.
This year’s Helping Hands Grants awardees are SUNY Downstate Medical School; St. George’s University; Stanford University School of Medicine; University of Texas Branch at Galveston; Western Michigan Homer Stryker School of Medicine; University of California, San Diego; and Creighton School of Medicine. The recipients’ proposals include topics such as harm reduction, eating disorder prevention, resources for underserved psychiatry patients, trauma-informed mental health services, and the mental health of young adults affected by poverty and racism.
"The future physician-psychiatrists served by Helping Hands Grants are paving the way towards a safer, more knowledgeable, and more mentally healthy nation," said Rawle Andrews, Jr., Esq., Executive Director of APAF. "Being a part of the progressing research presented by our Helping Hands awardees remains a highlight of our work at the Foundation. Congratulations to our 2023 grantees."
The next Helping Hands Grants cycle will open in February 2024. To learn more about the Helping Hands Grants Program, visit our website.