Vic Armstrong

Vic (Victor) Armstrong serves as the inaugural Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He previously held the position of Chief Diversity Officer at RI International and served as the inaugural Chief Health Equity Officer for North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). In this role, he led the strategy and operational goals for promoting health equity, diversity, and inclusion across the state’s health and human services agencies. Prior to that, Victor was the Director of the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, overseeing public community-based mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, substance use, and traumatic brain injury services in North Carolina.

With over 30 years of experience in human services, Victor has dedicated his career to building and strengthening community resources for individuals who have been historically marginalized.

The son of a pastor, Victor believes deeply in the role of the church as a gateway to the community and a key to creating "soul-safe" spaces. He is a nationally recognized speaker on health equity, access to healthcare, mental health challenges, and the critical role of the faith community in addressing the nation’s mental health crisis.