NMHA President Wins Wellstone Award

Eliot Sorel, M.D. (left), presents the 2003 Sen. Paul and Mrs. Sheila Wellstone Mental Health Visionary Award of the Washington Psychiatric Society (WPS) to Michael M. Faenza, president and CEO of the National Mental Health Association (NMHA). At right is Jeffrey Akman, M.D., president of the WPS. Sorel chaired the WPS committee that selected the winner.

WPS chose Faenza from a pool of nationally distinguished mental health leaders because he stood out as a “brother at heart with Sen. and Mrs. Wellstone” and shared the late senator’s vision and drive to make mental health care available to all those who need it. Specifically, Faenza worked tirelessly alongside Wellstone toward ending insurance discrimination against people with mental disorders.

With more than 25 years of experience in the mental health field, Faenza has spent the past decade focusing on legislative advocacy and improving America’s commitment to helping people with mental illnesses through his leadership at the NMHA.

“Sen. Wellstone was a committed, concerned, and passionate individual,” said Faenza. “I am humbled to be recognized for sharing the ideals of one of the finest elected officials I have ever known.”

The NMHA is the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing issues related to mental health and mental illness.