NAMICon is where hundreds of dynamic and important voices unite to improve mental health for all through mental health awareness, education and advocacy.
It's where personal journeys are celebrated, positive change takes root, and new connections and community cultivate a safe space, fostering support, hope, and healing.
Immerse yourself in a transformative experience!
There is something for everyone at NAMICon—whether you are living with a mental health condition, caring for someone who is, a NAMI grassroots leader, a mental health professional, or just starting on your mental health journey.
Come ready to attend over 50+ engaging sessions exploring important mental health topics and issues that matter most to you. Join dynamic discussions that challenge your thinking and share invaluable knowledge. Be inspired by meaningful moments and leave with new insights, tools and resources, that will reignite your passion for change.
NAMI Alliance Day
NAMI Alliance Day precedes the general attendance portion of NAMICon and is designed specifically for NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates. Presented by departments across NAMI National, this day is dedicated to supporting the great work taking place across the Alliance.
Date: Monday, June 3, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Audience: Board Volunteers, Development Directors, Education/Program Managers, Executive Directors, Public Policy/Advocacy Leaders and Walk Managers.
We've curated an enriching experience with diverse tracks designed to explore and address critical aspects of mental health and well-being, ensuring that attendees will gain valuable insights and meaningful perspectives. Here's a glimpse into the compelling tracks we have lined up for NAMICon 2024.
Advocating for Access to Care
Join discussions on breaking down barriers to mental health care, addressing disparities and advancing policies that promote accessible and equitable mental health services for all.
Hope for Caregivers via Research
Delve into the latest research and innovative approaches that offer hope and support for caregivers. Explore how advancements in science and understanding contribute to the well-being of those who provide essential care to their loved ones.
Youth & Young Adults
Tailored for the unique challenges faced by the younger generation, this track explores mental health issues specific to youth and young adults. Lead and engage in conversations about support systems, coping mechanisms and fostering resilience during critical life stages.
Workplace Mental Health
Uncover strategies for creating mentally healthy workplaces. From stress management to cultivating positive organizational cultures, this track focuses on promoting mental well-being within professional environments.
Peer Stories
In this powerful track, people with lived experiences share their stories, providing a platform for empathy, understanding, and connection. Explore narratives that inspire, educate, and foster a sense of hope and community.
Help Not Handcuffs (Justice Diversion)
Discuss the intersection of mental health and the justice system, advocating for a transformative shift in thinking towards more compassionate and effective approaches. Explore alternatives to incarceration, emphasizing mental health treatment and support over punitive measures.
**Agenda is subject to change, check back for more detail as NAMICon gets closer.
Let's get social! From Facebook to Instagram to TikTok, how are you promoting your NAMI Organization in the digital space to not only fundraise but to engage new, diverse audiences? Join the Field Resource Development Team as we discuss all things social media fundraising and awareness to build your local engagement strategy.
NAMI state and affiliate leaders are increasingly engaged in outreach, program and initiatives designed for diverse communities. They recognize that the need in these communities is great, that NAMI increasingly understands how to engage diverse communities and this engagement leads to new funding opportunities, new strategic partnerships and strengthening their organizations. This session will feature innovative ways in which NAMI at all levels - national, state and affiliate levels - are increasing their focus on engaging with diverse communities in new ways. This session will feature newly rolled out resources, tools and strategies to connect with diverse and minoritized communities.
Advocacy is a critical yet often neglected pillar of NAMI's work. In this session, you will learn about what resources are available from NAMI National to strengthen your advocacy impact from advocacy campaigns and publications to grants and hands-on guidance. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of NAMI-specific advocacy tools and how to use them for their own state and local-level policy priorities.
This presentation will serve as a guide to measuring the impact of NAMI Signature Programs through numbers and stories. Through the presentation, hands-on activities, group discussions and Q&A, attendees will learn the role impact measurement plays in program growth, and sustainability, along with implementing strategies to measuring program outcomes. The session will also touch upon ways NAMI can help NSOs and NAs to track and retrieve their program data for ease of use.
Join us for an overview of how to build a successful grants program. We'll cover how to find grants, tips for grant writing, and advice on how to prioritize grants when you have a small staff. We will also answer your grants-related questions and take feedback to develop additional, virtual grants trainings.
Volunteers are the foundation for the work that NAMI Affiliates and NAMI State Organizations do. They provide programming, assist with events and operations, and join Boards of Directors. They strengthen ties to the communities served and broaden support networks. Given the important role they play, taking an intentional and strategic approach to recruiting volunteers can go a long way in meeting an organization's needs, and fostering a stable and sustainable volunteer base. In this session, participants will receive tips and tools on how to: 1) identify their organization's needs; 2) find volunteers with the skills and interests to meet those needs; and 3) match volunteers up to opportunities with their organization.
All incorporated NAMI organizations have an obligation to remain in good standing in their jurisdictions, including any and all mandatory filings at the local, state, and federal levels. NAMI organizations operate as nonprofit entities with many of the same requirements as other corporate entities within their state. On occasion, these administrative necessities take a back seat to the well-intended ambitions to deliver on the NAMI mission. This session aims to share strategies that refocus NAMI organizations to meet their requirements under the law so that they are free and unencumbered to do all the wonderful and supportive activities that help those in their community.
Over the last ~6 months, we have been working with The Bridgespan Group to help us craft a strategic plan to guide the next phase of NAMI's impact journey. Today, we are coming together to share an update on the strategic planning process and an emerging vision for impact and theory of change to guide the work of our Alliance in the coming years. This vision outlines a path towards catapulting our impact by harnessing the full power we bring as a nationwide movement. It is informed by hundreds of voices across our Alliance and seeks to integrate the learnings and recommendations from 10X and DEI initiatives. Please join us to hear a preview of what lies ahead as we near our 50th anniversary.
Let's get social! From Facebook to Instagram to TikTok, how are you promoting your NAMI Organization in the digital space to not only fundraise but to engage new, diverse audiences? Join the Field Resource Development Team as we discuss all things social media fundraising and awareness to build your local engagement strategy.
NAMI state and affiliate leaders are increasingly engaged in outreach, program and initiatives designed for diverse communities. They recognize that the need in these communities is great, that NAMI increasingly understands how to engage diverse communities and this engagement leads to new funding opportunities, new strategic partnerships and strengthening their organizations. This session will feature innovative ways in which NAMI at all levels - national, state and affiliate levels - are increasing their focus on engaging with diverse communities in new ways. This session will feature newly rolled out resources, tools and strategies to connect with diverse and minoritized communities.
Advocacy is a critical yet often neglected pillar of NAMI's work. In this session, you will learn about what resources are available from NAMI National to strengthen your advocacy impact from advocacy campaigns and publications to grants and hands-on guidance. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of NAMI-specific advocacy tools and how to use them for their own state and local-level policy priorities.
This presentation will serve as a guide to measuring the impact of NAMI Signature Programs through numbers and stories. Through the presentation, hands-on activities, group discussions and Q&A, attendees will learn the role impact measurement plays in program growth, and sustainability, along with implementing strategies to measuring program outcomes. The session will also touch upon ways NAMI can help NSOs and NAs to track and retrieve their program data for ease of use.
Join us for an overview of how to build a successful grants program. We'll cover how to find grants, tips for grant writing, and advice on how to prioritize grants when you have a small staff. We will also answer your grants-related questions and take feedback to develop additional, virtual grants trainings.
Volunteers are the foundation for the work that NAMI Affiliates and NAMI State Organizations do. They provide programming, assist with events and operations, and join Boards of Directors. They strengthen ties to the communities served and broaden support networks. Given the important role they play, taking an intentional and strategic approach to recruiting volunteers can go a long way in meeting an organization's needs, and fostering a stable and sustainable volunteer base. In this session, participants will receive tips and tools on how to: 1) identify their organization's needs; 2) find volunteers with the skills and interests to meet those needs; and 3) match volunteers up to opportunities with their organization.
All incorporated NAMI organizations have an obligation to remain in good standing in their jurisdictions, including any and all mandatory filings at the local, state, and federal levels. NAMI organizations operate as nonprofit entities with many of the same requirements as other corporate entities within their state. On occasion, these administrative necessities take a back seat to the well-intended ambitions to deliver on the NAMI mission. This session aims to share strategies that refocus NAMI organizations to meet their requirements under the law so that they are free and unencumbered to do all the wonderful and supportive activities that help those in their community.
Clinical research studies are essential to advance our understanding of mental health conditions and develop better screening, treatment, and support tools. This research is not possible without the participation of individuals both with and without mental health conditions. In partnership with an academic clinical research group focused on schizophrenia and related conditions, NAMI is conducting this focus group to learn more about what might motivate or prevent someone from participating in a clinical research study.
If you have a diagnosis of schizophrenia or a related condition, or if you are the family member of an individual with one of these diagnoses, we want to learn from your experiences and perspectives. A maximum of 20 individuals will be invited to participate in this focus group. Refreshments will be provided. In appreciation for your time, compensation will be provided at a rate of $50 per hour. If you are interested in participating, please complete this brief questionnaire. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].
This event is for Executive Directors from NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates to network, share experiences, and learn from one another. There will be a presentation of the Vicki Cottrell award and results from the annual Executive Directors survey will be shared. Light refreshments will be served.
Over several days, The Bridgespan Group will host workshops for leaders of the NAMI Alliance to share an update on NAMI’s strategic planning process and gather your input and perspectives. Your voice has been, and will continue to be, a critical component to this effort and we encourage you to join the conversation about our emerging strategy. Come help shape the next phase of NAMI’s impact journey!
Join us for this special event designed for Spanish-speaking NAMI program leaders! This workshop aims to create a space to share resources and connect with each other. Participants are invited to engage in an open dialogue about the mental health challenges Spanish speakers face in both finding and providing resources. Discussions include challenges in accessing resources and the importance of cultural sensitivity. The workshop aims to create a Spanish-language network among NAMI affiliates and program leaders to better support the Hispanic community.
¡Únete a nosotros en este evento especial diseñado para afiliados y líderes de programas de NAMI que hablan español! Este taller tiene como objetivo crear un espacio para compartir recursos y conectarse entre sí. Los participantes están invitados a participar en un diálogo abierto sobre los desafíos de salud mental que enfrentan los hispanohablantes, tanto en la búsqueda como en el suministro de recursos. Las discusiones incluyen los desafíos en el acceso a recursos y la importancia de la sensibilidad cultural. El taller tiene como objetivo crear una red en español entre afiliados y líderes de programas de NAMI para apoyar mejor a la comunidad hispana.
NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences.
NOTE: No sign-up is needed ahead of time, however, the NAMI Support Group will be capped at 15 people. Once maximum attendance has been reached, no new attendees will be able to join.
The NAMI Support Group will start on time. Attendees will be allowed into the NAMI Support Group until 5 minutes after start time. After the 5 minutes, no new attendees will be allowed into the NAMI Support Group.
We are so excited to welcome everyone to NAMICon 2024!! Join us as we kick things off in the Mile High City! There will be food, drinks, a DJ, games and lots of amazing people. Can’t wait to see you there!
NIMH is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year. In light of this milestone, Dr. Gordon will discuss the contributions of NIMH research to current approaches to care of individuals with mental illnesses and highlight priorities for research aimed at advancing care in the future.
Discover "The Way Work Should Be" , an initiative designed for businesses to help them prioritize mental health and employee well-being. This tailored workplace program targets the business community, in offering a comprehensive approach that includes online and in-person courses on mental health and well-being as well as access to a resource library that includes videos, podcasts and a toolbox, along with information for developing a funding stream that includes building a NAMIWalks team.
Parallel to the implementation of 988 and unprecedented investments in crisis services, an increasing number of communities across the country have launched civilian crisis responses with a focus on 911 callers who would otherwise receive police responses by default. This discussion will examine the implementation of these programs in New Orleans and St. Paul, as well as the Vera Institute’s efforts to ensure that system changes are data-informed and accountable to directly impacted communities.
Students With Psychosis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers student leaders and advocates worldwide through community building and collaboration. This session will be presented by three Students With Psychosis members. The panel will have a mix of storytelling and discussion followed by a Q&A. The discussion and storytelling will highlight intersectionality, academic accommodations, and action points on transforming community, workplace, and educational environments.
This session will provide innovative ways that communities are tackling the need to advance equity in access to mental health care for people in Black/African Ancestry communities experiencing serious mental health conditions. Participants will learn about strategic partnerships, building community, new resources to use in outreach and more. Much important work is happening on 988, this session explores how we leverage that work for good. Speakers listed are placeholders and to be confirmed.
Our presentation explores how children's early thought & behavior patterns can lead to mental health issues. It highlights the limitations of current systems & attendees will be challenged to think innovatively & more inclusively. Featuring a mother's story about losing her teen to suicide, this session emphasizes the need for awareness & action in nurturing children's creative development & mental well-being, urging proactive steps from parents, educators, leaders, & health professionals.
This session delves into the science behind the underappreciated potential of mental health literacy for caregivers supporting people with mental illnesses, highlighting its positive effects on their well-being and coping skills. We explore the broader social and economic implications and the current gaps in knowledge. We end by putting forth innovative, practical and accessible solutions for implementation.
Despite adoption of a 10-Year Mental Health Plan and significant investment, NH continues to face emergency department boarding. NH DHHS and its partners developed the Mission Zero initiative to address 3 key drivers to this issue – front door, inpatient supply & coordination, and back door issues. Through this collaborative initiative the partners have forged an alliance to help all Granite Staters access the right care at the right time so that they can live full lives in their communities.
Mental health is health, but too often health insurance won’t cover mental health care equally, or at “parity,” with physical health care. However, the fight for parity is heating up again with new federal rules aimed at ensuring that services are available without long waits or excessive out-of-pocket costs. States are also finding innovative ways to ensure people can access mental health benefits with fewer barriers. Hear from policy experts about what new tools exist to enforce parity.
Participants will learn about two NAMI Kansas projects: Assisted Outpatient Treatment and the Justice Involved Person Project that are placed in courts, jails, and state prisons. The impact, success, and lessons learned from these projects alongside how NAMI Kansas has adapted signature programming for correctional settings will be discussed. Finally individuals will hear from Becca Lane at National on how to work with National on these adaptations and what fidelity looks like for these programs
This lecture will review the four stress responses; the role of positive, tolerable, and toxic stress, how getting stuck in 'survival mode' impacts health; and concrete healing tools and strategies for both children and caregivers to thrive after adversity. This will include: Dan Seigel’s Window of Tolerance, Bruce Perry’s “Regulate, Relate, Reason,” and stress-informed approaches to supportive relationships, sleep, nutrition, physical activity, mindfulness, nature, and mental health care.
Over several days, The Bridgespan Group will host workshops for leaders of the NAMI Alliance to share an update on NAMI’s strategic planning process and gather your input and perspectives. Your voice has been, and will continue to be, a critical component to this effort and we encourage you to join the conversation about our emerging strategy. Come help shape the next phase of NAMI’s impact journey!
Join us for networking and best practice sharing for individuals and their NAMI organizations interested in the NAMI Tardive Dyskinesia Education Grant program. Now in its 4th year of programming, this year’s 80 NAMI State Organization and NAMI Affiliate awardees are working to implement awareness and education activities about TD for both their NAMI families and local communities. Learning can be used not only during TD Awareness Week (May 5-11), but throughout the year. The session features best practice sharing from the Center for Patient Advocacy Leaders (CPALs) TD Champions and NAMI representatives, who will highlight their work and experiences related to TD awareness and education. Lunch will be available and there will be opportunity for questions and discussion amongst participants to facilitate learning from one another.
Please join the NAMI Service Members, Veterans, and Families Council for a series of presentations on the intersection of military service and mental health. These enlightening presentations will share perspectives and expertise from Council members on issues important to service members, veterans, and their families.
Members of the National Education team will hold an information session for NAMI Program Directors, Coordinators and Executive Directors. Attendees will have an opportunity to brainstorm with other field leaders, speak with members of the National Education team and will receive program resources in addition to current news regarding NNSPs.
This talk will describe the current landscape of psychedelic treatment for mental illness in the United States. Topics will include the legal status of psychedelic treatments, a synopsis of the most studied treatments and their corresponding research findings, the applicability of recovery principles in psychedelic treatment, recommendations for individuals pursuing these treatments and for their families, and finally, challenges and open questions in the field.
Do you want to unlock the power of unity & purpose within your faith community by embracing the transformative potential of collaboration? If so, please join us for an engaging session on community collaborations & engagement. Participants can expect insightful conversations on developing collaborative partnerships to implement the FaithNet and the ABCs of relationship building. This session will also explore potential challenges, conflicts & the benefits of working with diverse communities.
In this interactive discussion, participants will learn about innovative ways to prioritize workplace wellness, to help staff achieve a strong work-life balance. We will explore ways to incorporate DEIB-Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, into existing workplace culture to create environments where staff feel valued, seen and heard which in turn empowers them to have more to give to clients. We will offer practical ways to think differently and transform culture for stronger outcomes.
Creating access to care for people living in mental health deserts. Just like a food desert (an area that has limited access to affordable and nutritious food), we have mental health deserts in America. A mental health desert means there is a large area where people have limited access to affordable and mentally nutritious services. In my session, I want to teach people how to advocate for access to mental health care in their remote communities.
CIT International discusses the 5-legged stool of the Memphis Model, however oftentimes the primary focus of work is on police officer training. Critical components of a successful program also include community collaboration, a vibrant and accessible crisis system, behavioral health staff training, and family, consumers, and advocates collaborate and educate. CIT Maine has built a solid foundation with data and collaborations for individuals and communities.
This session focuses on how to utilize the knowledge that we have as peers to facilitate our own wellness as peers. There will be an emphasis on staying well while working as a peer in the mental health field.
My session is focused on the 3 biggest lessons I learned going from being a patient when I was hospitalized at 19, struggling tremendously with my mental health, to returning to work at this same facility 4 years later. These 3 lessons are: the power of our thoughts, the role of cultivating support networks and the importance of tracking habits. I will expand on the powerful lessons I learned being on both sides – as a patient in the system and as a dedicated worker striving to make an impact.
The possible unfavorable influence of a caregiver's device engagement on attachment style is the basis for a research investigation currently being conducted by the session presenters. These two globally-recognized experts in healthy device management, attachment, family systems, and adolescent treatment will discuss this issue, their research study, and offer recommendations to help avoid the potential negative impact of a caregiver's device use on attachment bonding with their children
NAMI On Campus (NOC) is NAMI’s high school and college initiative supporting student-led mental health clubs. Students are empowered to lead the change on their campus to destigmatize mental health and educate their community. Learn in this session how students across the nation can make an impact on their campuses through NOC and how to bring NOC to your community.
Graphic Medicine can be explained as the intersection between the medium of comics and the discourse of healthcare. These stories in book or short zine format create reader empathy through heartfelt, intimate drawings. As visual creatures we are moved by pictures and images. I believe in the importance of story and that we are all able to draw our stories. Join me for a look at current graphic medicine novels and create your own short [8 page] personal zine from a single piece of paper.
This session will spotlight eating disorders, body image, and the post-COVID impact. Leading "Body Talks," a peer-led program at the University of Georgia, and serving as the former NAMI chapter president, highlights the transformative impact of open discussions about eating disorders and their stigma. I value unfiltered dialogues when it comes to this subject, and believe presenting facts, ideas and my own experiences at NAMICon will continue the candid conversation to foster support and resilience.
Goal is to start conversations about mental health in African American men and develop a tool kit for supportive resources, impactful programs, educational resources, and access to additional support when needed.Evaluate the mental health concerns of men and how it affects us as men in the space; Discuss and share resources that will help other brothers in their walk-in fatherhood centered around building the family and assisting in maintaining relationships.
Learn about the work of Body Empowerment Project, a Philadelphia based nonprofit with the mission of reducing eating disorder risk and giving adolescents the skills to live peacefully and healthfully in their bodies specifically in populations that lack access to care, from their executive director Clara Pritchett. Get an overview of the eating disorder care landscape, why prevention is so important, and get a taste of the activities students are doing in Body Empowerment Project workshops each week.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the challenges of supporting others who are neurodevelopmentally diverse (neurodivergent, trauma-impacted, or navigating mental-health challenges), while struggling to balance their needs with your own well-being and sense of purpose? Explore the Resilient SEQUOIA Model to support others while cultivating your well-being. Learn key strategies for understanding, empathy, and practical support, transforming life into a journey of growth, resilience, and thriving.
Sharing the innovative programs offered to teens & young adults at NAMI Orange County that can be adapted for any NAMI affiliate. Programs include NAMI on Campus Clubs, “Happy Hour” self-care nights, Honest Hour webinars, and our Anxiety Sucks podcast. These programs empower TAY to take charge of their mental health and share their experiences. We will also discuss how we partner with local high schools to offer Ending the Silence.
Join Karena Dawn, founder of Tone It Up, the leading fitness and lifestyle brand, and of The Big Silence mental health foundation, for a revitalizing experience that will awaken your body and mind. Karena shares practices and tools to guide and inspire you to turn your challenges into triumphs. Through fun, meditation, movement, and an inspirational and educational mental health discussion, she will motivate you to feel confident, empowered, fulfilled, and excited about life’s journey.
Providing health care, not handcuffs, when a person is experiencing a mental health crisis requires a workforce prepared to do this crucial work without relying on law enforcement unless significant safety or criminal concerns are present. This session will highlight NAMI-funded work being done to lay the foundations for this workforce and elaborate the steps for establishing it as a new professional role—that of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Crisis Responder (CBHCR).
This workshop will offer an overview of SAMHSA’s Model Standards for Peer Support Credentialing along with an update of feedback received since the standards were launched summer of 2023. Co-presenters will then share the findings of NAMI’s organization wide survey of Certified Peer Specialists who were asked to share their feedback on each of the 11 standards and suggestions for improvement, as well as their thoughts on what NAMI National’s role should be in the Peer Credentialing space
A mental health litigation attorney and forensic psychiatrist team up to teach attendees what Forensic Psychiatry is, how it is interwoven in the legal system and its importance for the mental health community. By developing an understanding of the legal and forensic mechanisms the audience will then be introduced to innovative incarceration diversion tools, which attendees can advocate for transformative shifts in their communities.
In this session, participants will be exposed to the simile of the Wellness Waterfall and its potential impact on organizational key indicators like retention, engagement, and satisfaction including industry trends. The Wellness Waterfall is influenced by skills (learning and development), will (self-care and self-regulation), and fills (reward and recognition) which influence healthy and sustained behavior change at the individual and organizational levels.
A perennial NAMI-Con favorite, during this session NAMI National staff will provide a recap of major federal developments in mental health policy and how NAMI is continuing to set the tone with federal policy makers. We will also examine the upcoming elections and what that may mean for mental health in 2025.
Over several days, The Bridgespan Group will host workshops for leaders of the NAMI Alliance to share an update on NAMI’s strategic planning process and gather your input and perspectives. Your voice has been, and will continue to be, a critical component to this effort and we encourage you to join the conversation about our emerging strategy. Come help shape the next phase of NAMI’s impact journey!
Join VA Deputy Secretary Tanya Bradsher for a discussion on the mental health care needs of our veterans’ community, including families. Hear an update on the Department of Veterans Affairs priorities and accomplishments around mental health and suicide prevention, and listen as Dep. Sec. Bradsher discusses the opportunities and challenges that face us as we support veterans and their families with NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.
Join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion on the unique needs of veterans' mental health. This session aims to shed light on the profound challenges faced by veterans as they navigate the complexities of mental health post-service. Our panel of experts will discuss the hurdles veterans encounter, including PTSD, transition stress, and the stigma surrounding mental health care in military culture. Through personal insights, research, and practical strategies, we'll explore innovative approaches to support and empower veterans on their path to healing.
Produced and directed by Antwon Lindsey, ""HUSH | Help Us Say Help"" is a 76-minute documentary about the origins of generational trauma and access to mental health resources within Black communities.
Through this event, we aim to educate, entertain, and empower Black families to transform generational and individual trauma by seeking professional support.
“HUSH is a crash course in the history of and challenges around mental health in Black communities. It is required viewing for all those who would advocate for the health and wellness of Black people.”
--Juno Pitchford, NAMI
Join us in the Grand Ballroom Tuesday from 7:30p-10p for a night of connection, support, and empowerment. This event aims to unite the Divine 9 Greek community to champion mental well-being. Enjoy a DJ, indulge in live music, spoken word, comedy, and dance, all while fostering dialogue on mental wellness. Let's share experiences, resources, and strategies to uplift our communities. Together, we'll destigmatize important conversations. Don't miss this chance to connect and grow with fellow Divine 9 members! Friends are welcome.
Join an engaging discussion with SAMHSA Assistant Secretary Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., who leads the federal government’s agency focused on people with mental health and substance use conditions. Hear how SAMHSA is working across agencies and across states to transform crisis response, improve early intervention and expand access to care, including how they are elevating the voices of lived experience.
Based on findings from a 2023 phenomenological study on affectivity in schizophrenia, this session offers important insights and language for caregivers and providers about the concepts of "affective proximity," "experiences of othering" and "value-based markers of being in the world" to help develop meaningful, and justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI)-oriented relationships with persons diagnosed with schizophrenia.
The session is about the lived experience of 3 formerly incarcerated peers and the impact it had on their mental health. To include discussion on barriers that were present & the impact they had on the peers state of mental wellness. Also including tools and resources that have been gained from NAMI that would have been beneficial on their journey to recovery/mental wellness. Discussion includes their lived experience testimony of tools such as Competency Hearings & Restoration.
The 988 Lifeline opened a national conversation about how we respond to people experiencing a mental health crisis. Building on 988’s early success, efforts are underway in communities across the country to build crisis response systems. Hear about ongoing efforts by NAMI and our partners to ensure every person in crisis has someone to talk to, someone to respond and a safe place to be – and what it will take from all of us to make sure every person in a mental health crisis gets a mental health response.
Presenting on a report entitled The Economic Burden of Mental Health Inequities, this report aims to offer an understanding of the economic impact of our failure of over 165 years since the passage of the Bill for the Benefit of the Indigent Insane to invest in equity-focused behavioral health interventions, services, treatments, supports, and programs. The report included policy recommendations to address political determinants of behavioral health, investments, and culturally centered care.
Women tend to put everyone and everything in their lives first even in the workplace. This workshop will discuss the statistics of women mental health challenges specifically in the workplace, the importance of making mental health a priority in your life and how focusing on your own mental health improves your leadership abilities.
In this session, Sierra will share her passion for leveraging evidence-based techniques, including gamification and positive psychology, to add a sense of adventure, accomplishment, and fun to everyday life. Stories about how she uses this system in her mental health recovery are a focus of the presentation. Sierra will teach you how to create a personalized "Questify Your Life" system: establish your character, design fulfilling quests, and map your journey.
People with mental health conditions are overrepresented in our nation’s jails and prisons and when people leave incarceration, there are many challenges to successfully reentering their communities. This session will explore new policies that allow Medicaid to cover some services prior to people being released from prison or jail have the potential to improve the health and wellbeing of people with mental health and substance use conditions.
NAMI’s Youth and Young Adult Initiatives Hub will provide an exclusive preview of video highlights from NAMI’s new, on-demand, Trauma Awareness Training, scheduled to launch on nami.org in June 2024. Workshop participants will receive resources they can use in their work with young people, including scripts for mindfulness practices and tips tailored by age-group for understanding and engaging youth whose behavior is impacted by traumatic stress.
Mothers mourning children lost to suicide underscore a need to walk out of their darkness and into a transformative light. A beacon that will repurpose their intent and galvanize their willingness to live for another tomorrow. Utilizing case studies participants will explore the maternal narratives of the survived to deepen their understanding about the factors that contribute to posttraumatic growth in the wake of child suicide. Compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma will be emphasized.
In this session, I will review the treatment of bipolar disorder with a focus on outcomes and a collaboration with NAMI to build a learning health network to help people thrive and reduce the probability of mood episodes.
In a moderated panel discussion, NAMI Next Gen members will share their unique journeys of mental health awareness. You'll hear about their personal experiences, the evolution of mental health conversations, and how the next generation is leading and shaping the future of mental health. Bring your lunch and join us for an inspiring conversation!
Join us for an enlightening look at the latest findings from NAMI's new annual workplace mental health polling data. Through a comprehensive survey, NAMI has gathered invaluable insights into the state of mental health within workplaces across various sectors. From understanding the current experience of the American worker to evaluating the knowledge of existing support systems, this presentation promises to offer a nuanced perspective on the intersection of mental health and the workplace.
Discover key trends, emerging patterns, and potential areas for improvement with NAMI’s Workplace Mental Health team. Whether you're an HR professional, a business leader, or an advocate for mental health awareness, this presentation equips you with the knowledge and tools necessary to foster a healthier and more supportive work environment for all.
Justice-involved individuals experience mental health and substance use disorders at much higher rates than the general population. In this session, experts from All Rise will discuss concrete strategies for identifying individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders in the justice system, explore promising diversion models, and offer guidance for jurisdiction seeking to build new alternatives to incarceration.
This session would share results from a study that tested the impact of a peer-focused wellness intervention on employee well-being and attitudes, relative to an individual wellness intervention (i.e., those that tend to be common in status quo, organizational wellness programs.) Through a causal design, we find significant evidence of improved well-being and attitudes in the peer program versus the individual program in a high-stress occupation: correctional work.
85% of employees are disengaged at work. Staff leave because they don't feel seen, heard, or appreciated. Who knew the answer to this lies in a show called Ted Lasso? In this workshop, we will explore how play and positive psychology are essential to building psychological safety in this surreal new reality of work. We will analyze through the lens of Ted Lasso what currently needs to be added to your workplace that would create the culture your staff is looking for.
During this interactive panel, directors from two law enforcement-led deflection programs will discuss how implementing behavioral health crisis response efforts has helped them respond to the unique needs of their communities, and outline the lessons learned through the successes and challenges faced by their deflection initiatives. These panelists also represent programs that are part of BJA’s First Responder Deflection Mentorship and Law Enforcement-Mental Health Learning Site Initiatives.
For many of us, our jobs consume most of our time, energy, and effort each day. The experiences we share with our colleagues strengthen our mental health or diminish it. How can a company move beyond policies and programs to shape healthy human connection at work? It begins with strong Purpose and Values. Join Chief Human Resource Officer Grace Lee and Organizational Culture Consultant Deborah Urbanik to learn how to uncover if your company's core principles support a mentally healthy culture.
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation released the Caregiver Mental Wellness Framework, following more than two years of development with military and veteran caregivers, mental health professionals, and human-centered design experts. In this session, we’ll walk through the development of the Framework before taking an interactive dive into its content, where session participants will have an opportunity to engage in self-reflective content within each of the Framework’s six dimensions.
As a Gen Z Latine man advocating to normalize and encourage action around mental health for the last 6 years, I've experienced and heard the challenges youth and young adults (YYA) have AND continue to navigate. Applying these experiences, my session will explore how to go beyond including YYA and the importance of moving towards providing us with ownership of the solutions built for us but often without us. Doing my best to depict why lack of YYA presence has led to the crisis we face today.
In this presentation the audience will hear from a panel of 3 different national peer subject matter experts (2 are also NAMI National board members) who will provide a unique perspective on their personal mental health, substance use, and veteran peer lived experiences and the challenges they overcame to gain leadership status in the national peer recovery space. This session will explore the valuable insights of effective leadership strategies rooted in direct lived experience.
For the past 10 years, NAMI Ohio has worked to increase youth peer support, programs, and opportunities throughout Ohio. This presentation will include youth peers and adult supporters who are working at the state and local levels to strengthen NAMI's work with young people. Learn how our youth leadership team created a strategic plan, leveraged funding, advocated for Certified Youth Peer Support, and are increasing youth presence in our State and Local Affiliates.
This session is about a balanced approach toward treating bipolar disorder. I’ll describe how I built up resiliency through caring for mental, physical, and spiritual health. The hope is that by sharing my story, I’ll provide others the missing elements of their care plan.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and NAMI began partnering in April 2022 to promote access to NAMI’s Homefront virtual family education curriculum. While still in its infancy, the VA/NAMI partnership has expanded engagement in Homefront across the Veteran family & caregiver populations. This panel will present the partnership development, share background on supportive legislation, summarize early implementation efforts and lessons, and highlight data from our first year of collaboration.
Join us for the NAMI Annual Business Meeting, exclusively for the NAMI field, to discuss our current state and the future direction of our organization.
Many jurisdictions across the country have made efforts to divert people with significant mental health needs away from the criminal legal system and into community-based care, yet many people living with behavioral health disorders continue to experience arrest and the perils of pretrial detention. With increased risks of suicide and self-harm, expanding the crisis care continuum into the initial detention phase of incarceration offers a pathway to care and an opportunity for diversion.
Intergenerational partnership and diverse leadership is essential for sustained organizational growth. Engaging youth and young adults in leadership roles is necessary for both growing the Alliance and building the mental health care system of tomorrow. The presenters, young professionals and the youngest NAMI National board members to serve in the organization’s history, share challenges and lessons on how to include and support diverse youth leadership and advocacy.
The volume of competency orders increased by an alarming rate in Indiana over the past five years. With hundreds of individuals lingering in county jails awaiting competency restoration services, our strategies had to be revisited. This session will describe the innovative pathways, data driven decision making, impressive outcomes and unique collaborations designed to meet the demand for competency evaluation and restoration services in our state.
We seek to share JED’s research results to shift the conversation about stigma and help-seeking among teens. Attendees will hear teens’ perspectives around emotional well-being, challenges to reaching out for support, and where they are most likely to seek help. This session will challenge commonly held perceptions of stigma and evaluate structural and systemic barriers to help-seeking as well as propose effective solutions for initiating difficult, intergenerational conversations.
It’s about how we encourage men to seek support for their mental health – by exploring my own story of having a rare disease, my mental health challenges and the creation of my Rare Disease Mental Health Support group. It’s a space for men from different countries and cultures to come together, and despite our differences, we all have that shared powerful connection between us. I facilitate societal challenges men face today as well as unpacking ways we can as a collective make a change for all.
This session presents a novel collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios to adapt their film Inside Out into a social emotional learning program called InsideU. InsideU is a cost-free, web-based application designed for 6–12 year-olds that includes online learning modules on emotional awareness and regulation. InsideU uses the model of Entertainment Education and includes a series of episodes that are interactive, choose your-own-adventure stories. A panelist Q & A will follow the presentation.
In late March, 2021, Yale College was shaken by the on-campus death by suicide of Rachael Shaw-Rosenbaum. A small group of alumni quickly assembled to encourage administrators to modernize their arcane mental health policies. With the help of two courageous students, and an experienced legal team, we filed a class-action lawsuit on November 30, 2022 alleging that Yale discriminated against students with mental health conditions, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, among other
In 2021, NAMI and Girl Scouts USA decided to come together to create a patch program for girls grades 4-12 to address mental health and wellness. In July 2023, the patch program was announced and released at the 2023 Girl Scouts Convention. Hear about the development of the patch program and how it's been used in a Denver Girl Scouts Troop. You'll also hear from a Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient who created a space for young people to share their struggles and see that they're not alone.
Join us in exploring the unique benefits of behavioral health integration in pediatric primary care settings. From delivering the full continuum of behavioral health services to addressing family psychosocial needs, integrated behavioral health services deliver care where youth and their families can access it. Learn about screening and early identification of depression and anxiety, prevention and health promotion strategies for families with young children, and services designed to address health equity and access to care.
Uncover Maui's post-fire NAMI support group evolution, uniting community resilience. Navigate unique strategies for mental health post-disaster, with insights into innovation, challenges, and community empowerment. Explore collaborative initiatives, including a partnership with HECO, spotlighting the impact of corporate-community collaboration in crisis recovery.
Coalitions have the power to span gaps, scale up excellent practice and amplify diverse voices. Learn from the Advancing Behavioral Health Initiative, an 8-year collaboration between 10 local coalitions and the Medical College of Wisconsin. Learn how a state coalition, the Mental Health Action Partnership leverages local coalition experience to gather diverse stakeholders in a learning community, achieve consensus on policy goals, and promote ongoing system improvement. Explore NAMI’s role.
Join us for a Fireside Chat featuring Congressman Kennedy, renowned mental health advocate and author, in dialogue with Dan Gillison. In this candid conversation, Congressman Kennedy will share his personal journey through mental health challenges, drawing from his own experiences documented in his insightful books. From navigating the highs and lows of public life to confronting stigma and advocating for policy change, Congressman Kennedy has been at the forefront of the mental health movement. Together with Dan, they will explore the evolving landscape of mental health advocacy, highlighting the critical role of storytelling, policy advocacy, and community support in driving change.
Youth and young adult attendees are welcome to participate at NAMICon’s Youth and Young Adult Mixer. This mixer serves as a space for young mental health advocates to build their network and enjoy the company of peers. Participants can expect fun networking activities, music, and refreshments.
It’s a party—and you’re invited! You don’t want to miss this fabulous night of good food, drinks, live music, games and most of all... lots of fun. Make lasting memories with old and new friends alike!
Join us for an insightful conversation on youth mental health as Dan Gillison, NAMI CEO, engages in conversation with Dr. Christine Crawford, NAMI National Associate Medical Director and author of the upcoming book "You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers." Gain valuable insights into supporting young people's mental health and navigating the challenges faced by families. This session will be enlightening and deeply personal, offering hope and healing through shared experiences and expertise.
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