Mental health, social work leaders to be honored by Mental Health America

Mental Health America will honor Pam Hyde, Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Dr. Elizabeth Clark, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), for their contributions and service to the mental health field at its 2013 Annual Conference in June, Why Wellness Works: Breakthroughs and Pathways to Whole Health, in National Harbor, Maryland.

Administrator Hyde will be presented the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her 35 years of accomplishments in the mental health field. She was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in November 2009 as Administrator of SAMHSA, bringing more than 30 years of experience in management and consulting for public health care and human service agencies.

Dr. Clark, who led the NASW, the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, from 2001 to March of this year, will receive the George Goodman Brudney and Ruth P. Brudney Social Work Award, given for significant contributions to the care and treatment of persons with mental illness.

"Pam Hyde and Dr. Clark have given extraordinary service and invaluable contributions in their fields," said Wayne W. Lindstrom, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America. "Their work and accomplishments have made significant differences in the lives of people living with mental health and substance use conditions."