Meet an APA Awardee: Psychiatric Services Achievement Awards

Since 1949, the Psychiatric Services Achievement Awards have recognized creative models of service delivery and innovative programs for people with mental illness or disabilities. This year’s award selection committee members were Gerard Gallucci, M.D., Laura Halpin, M.D., Ph.D., Jules Ranz, M.D., and Sasidhar Gunturu, M.D.

Without further ado, here are the 2025 awardees:

Gold Award: Bend Health
Bend Health is a virtual full-spectrum mental health service for youth and young adults. It has more than 200 providers, including behavioral care managers, mental health coaches, therapists, and psychiatric providers working in teams to provide services for subacute through crisis needs. Since launching in 2021, Bend has served more than 6,000 patients through age 25 by delivering care with three main principles: 1) access to care services within two days; 2) navigation by using AI to the right intensity of services at the right time; and 3) continuity of care by providing services that are appropriate for subacute needs through more severe needs.

Eight peer-reviewed studies show that 95% of Bend’s patients get better. However, they show not only better outcomes for patients with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and insomnia, but also improvements in caregiver stress, burnout, and insomnia. In addition, through Bend’s crisis services, the company has been able to divert 87% of its patients from the emergency department.

Silver Award: Maternal Outreach Through Telehealth for Rural Sites (MOTHeRS) Project
The COVID-19 pandemic intensified health disparities, especially in maternal health among expectant mothers in rural Eastern North Carolina, a group characterized by high unemployment, poverty, significant minority populations, and geographic barriers to care. These mothers faced increased health risks due to limited access to prenatal care for high-risk pregnancies, limited access to maternal fetal medicine (MFM) specialists, heightened mental health issues, and the impact of social determinants of health including systemic racism.

The MOTHeRS Project implemented a multidisciplinary telehealth service integrating MFM specialists, psychiatrists, a diabetes educator, a behavioral health manager, a nutritionist, and a nurse navigator. This approach minimized the need for travel and brought specialized care directly to underserved communities.

As of March 31, 2024, the MOTHeRS Project had facilitated 2,428 patient visits, including 122 MFM specialist visits, 116 visits with a diabetes educator/medical nutrition specialist, and 2,190 mental health visits at its four clinical sites. The project has saved 396,894 driving miles for patients and their families. In addition, the project has screened 41,229 patients for food insecurity and distributed 888 medically tailored food bags to those who screened positive.

Bronze Award: Rapid Access and Stabilization Program (RASP)
RASP is an early-intervention initiative that aims to provide timely access to psychiatric assessment and stabilization services to residents in the Central Zone of Nova Scotia. The program addresses a large unmet need for primary care providers working with patients in publicly funded mental health and addiction program. RASP provides referred patients with access to a focused consultation (in-person or virtually) with a psychiatrist in a RASP clinic, whose assessment and recommendations are then shared with the primary physician. All patients attending RASP can also enroll in a free text message–based support program based on principles of cognitive behavioral therapy.

In the first year, RASP reduced wait times and increased the number of primary care–referred patients who had access to comprehensive psychiatric assessments in Nova Scotia’s Central Zone by 1.072%. By providing comprehensive, patient-centered care and integrating digital mental health support and community resources, the program has improved mental health outcomes and satisfaction among patients and primary care providers. Its innovative approach has set a new standard for rapid psychiatric access and mental health support.

2026 Nominations Now Open!
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Psychiatric Services Achievement Awards. Nominate your favorite organization here. Applications are due by July 31.  ■

(Image: Getty Images/iStock/Jana Ilic Stankovic)