Victor Armstrong
Victor Armstrong serves as Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He also serves as Director of Soul Shop for Black Churches, an interactive workshop that equips faith community leaders to minister to their congregants impacted by suicidal desperation.
Victor previously served as Chief Diversity Officer of RI International with responsibility for developing, creating, and implementing the Diversity Equity and Inclusion framework throughout the organization. Prior to this role, Victor served as North Carolina DHHS Chief Health Equity Officer, with responsibility for leading the overarching strategy and operational goals to promote health equity, diversity, and inclusion across all the agency’s health and human services.
Victor originally joined NC DHHS as Director of the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, Substance Abuse Services in March of 2020, with responsibility and oversight of the public community-based mental health, intellectual and other developmental disabilities, substance use, and traumatic brain injury system in North Carolina. Prior to accepting this role, Victor spent six years as Vice President of Behavioral Health with Atrium Health. Based in Charlotte, Victor has over 30 years of experience in human services, primarily dedicated to building and strengthening community resources to serve individuals who have been historically marginalized. He is a nationally recognized speaker on issues regarding health equity and access to healthcare, particularly as it relates to individuals living with mental health challenges.
Victor currently serves on the steering committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and is the host of the “Strong Talk” podcast. He is a member of NC Institute of Medicine and serves on the Board of Directors for RI International, the Board of Advisors for East Carolina University School of Social Work, and the Council of Advisors for St. Augustine’s University.
Victor’s awards and recognitions include:
• National Association of Social Workers North Carolina (NASW-NC) 2022 Social Worker of the Year
• Addiction Professionals of NC (APNC) 2021 DEI Leadership & Impact Award
• Mental Health America’s 2021 H. Keith Brunnemer, Jr. Award for “Outstanding Mental Health Leadership”
• Black Mental Health Symposium 2019 Mental Health Advocate of the Year
• East Carolina University School of Social Work 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NC, 2012 Mental Health Professional of the Year
Victor graduated, Magna Cum Laude, from North Carolina Central University with a bachelor’s degree in business management and received a Master of Social Work from East Carolina University. He is the husband of Dr. Charletta Armstrong and the father of three sons, Carter, Alonzo, and Victor Jr.
varmstrong@afsp.org
980-417-9601
www.afsp.org
