Arcus Receives Recognition from the American Psychiatric Association Foundation for Advancing Minority Mental Health

We are thrilled to share that Arcus Behavioral Health and Wellness has been selected as a 2025 recipient of the prestigious Award for Advancing Minority Mental Health from the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF).

This national recognition is a powerful moment for our organization. We are honored to stand among outstanding community organizations that have created innovative and impactful solutions in mental health care for underserved and marginalized communities.

Why This Matters

At Arcus, our mission is to bridge the gap in mental health care for underinsured or uninsured individuals and families. We focus especially on serving people who are LGBTQ plus, from ethnic or cultural minority backgrounds, or part of immigrant communities. Our approach is rooted in providing high quality, culturally affirming, and LGBTQ plus inclusive care, while ensuring that our clinicians are fairly compensated. By covering the cost of therapy for clients with limited financial means, we strive to make mental health care truly accessible.

But equity alone is not our goal. We believe mental health care should not be limited to making people less miserable. It should help people live fuller and more meaningful lives. We focus not only on treating symptoms or diagnosing disorders, but also on enhancing our clients’ overall quality of life and well being. This belief shapes every aspect of our work, including therapy, psychological assessment, psychoeducation, and partnerships with community organizations.

Mental health care should also include the exploration and transformation of personality, values, beliefs, and the internal rules we hold for ourselves and others. Many of these have been shaped by systems of colonization, white supremacy, misogyny, caste structures, and heteronormativity. At Arcus, we support our clients in examining these influences critically and compassionately, so they can reclaim their identities and build lives rooted in authenticity, liberation, and healing.

Currently, 44 percent of our clients identify as ethnic or cultural minorities, and 40 percent identify as sexual or gender minorities. Many live at the intersection of these identities and face multiple barriers to care. Arcus exists to ensure they receive affirming, trauma informed, and holistic support.

A Recognition of Our Shared Work

The APAF Award for Advancing Minority Mental Health honors organizations that are reimagining what mental health care can and should be. For us, this means increasing awareness, expanding access, and transforming what quality mental health support looks like for those who have been historically excluded from care.

“We are deeply humbled and grateful for this recognition,” said Dr. Louis V. Haynes, Executive Director of Arcus. “I hope other agencies follow our example, not only in how we approach mental health, but also in our business model and treatment of our staff.”

Looking Ahead

We accept this award not as an end, but as a new beginning. The need for affirming, accessible, and transformative mental health care is more urgent than ever. We remain committed to expanding our services, strengthening our community partnerships, and advocating for systems that truly support well being.

Thank you for being part of our journey. We invite you to celebrate this moment with us and continue building a more just, inclusive, and healing world together.

With gratitude,

The Arcus Team

📣 Want to support our mission? Learn more about how you can get involved or donate here.