The Behavioral Health Tech Conference, the largest conference focused on expanding access to mental health and substance use services through technology and innovation, today announced the winners of its inaugural awards programme, the Young Innovators in Behavioral Health Awards. Created in partnership with Hopelab and Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, the awards programme recognises young leaders who have made significant contributions to the access, awareness and advancement of digital mental health care in the U.S.

“Young innovators are rightfully demanding a more central role in defining solutions to problems they see play out in their everyday lives, and their contributions are clearly making a positive impact on mental health across the nation,” said Solome Tibebu, founder and CEO, Going Digital: Behavioral Health Tech. “We’re beyond proud of this year’s winners of the Young Innovators in Behavioral Health Awards and look forward to providing them with the resources, guidance, and support they need to continue showcasing their ideas and digital solutions that are creating a better, healthier future for everyone.”

The programme acknowledges the critical role young people, who vary from students to clinical researchers to tech entrepreneurs, play in envisioning, designing and building a future where all people, especially young people, can feel more supported and get access to the critical digital mental health resources they need. Awardees of the 2023 Young Innovators in Behavioral Health Awards are:

• Jorge Alvarez – Social Impact Strategist and Mental Health Advocate
• Akos Antwi – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Revive Therapeutic Services
• Andrea Arana – Researcher and Evaluation Analyst at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Central Texas
• Makayla Boney – Student
• Audra Brulc – Community Initiatives Coordinator at Healthy Minds Policy Initiative
• Jose Caballero – Program Committee Member of Mental Health America
• Jake Cooper – Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Grow Therapy
• Catherine Delgado – President of GlobeMed at George Washington University – Milken Institute School of Public Health
• Devin Dihenia – Interim Associate Director of the graduate student training program and leads the DEIB program at Sharp HealthCare, and Mental Health Consultant at ReflexAI
• Carmine Di Maro – Director at the One Mind Accelerator
• Maddie Freeman – Founder of NoSo November
• Arielle Geismar – Mental Wellness Advocate and Tech Policy Strategist
• Emily Gendreau – Corporate Business Development Trainer at Aware Recovery Care In Home Addiction Treatment
• Greisy Hernandez – Mental Health Advocate and Content Creator
• Bhav Jain – Stanford Medical Student and President of The Connected Foundation
• Shrenik Jain – Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Marigold Health
• Arbaaz Karim – Co-founder of Mentall
• Bruny Kenou – co-founder of DukeLine, co-founder of the Lay Mental Health Advocates, and founder of LEANonME
• Mahmoud Khedr – Board Member of Mental Health America
• Luma Makari – Co-founder of Elggo
• Larissa May – Founder and Executive Director of #HALFTHESTORY
• Asli McCullers – Health Equity Researcher and Strategist at University of Maryland School of Public Health
• Breanna Myers – Child and Adolescent Therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and faculty member of Embody Dance Conference
• Anika Nayak – Freelance Health and Wellness Journalist
• Ben O’Keefe – Chief Executive Officer of Chaotic Good
• Trisha Prabhu – Inventor of ReThink™
• Stephen Smith – Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of NOCD
• Chipper Stotz – Head of Product at Nema Health
• Sojas Wagle – Medical student at Harvard Medical School
• Lian Zeitz – Senior Director and Co-founder of The Climate Mental Health Network

“As these talented young innovators demonstrate, young people are not simply passive consumers of mental health services but are key partners in developing solutions for the issues that impact them. We salute each of these award winners who are applying their skills, passion and lived experience to generate solutions for young Americans here in Texas and across the country,” said Kacie Kelly, Chief Innovation Officer at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute.

“The inaugural cohort of Young Innovators in Behavioral Health represents an impressive cross-section of young leaders making significant strides in creating a more inclusive, effective mental health ecosystem. We are thrilled to support them and celebrate their achievements,” said Margaret Laws, President and CEO, Hopelab.

Winners will be recognized during an awards ceremony on stage at the 2023 Behavioral Health Tech Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. on November 15. This year’s event will feature keynotes and panel discussions highlighting different approaches, models, and digital solutions that can help remove barriers across the healthcare ecosystem and expand mental and behavioral health best practices to increase access to care and bolster the U.S. health economy. See the full agenda with keynote and session speakers here.