Call For Speakers

Deadline for Submission: March 21, 2025, or when 350 proposals have been received.

Notification of Acceptance: Mid-May 2025

SESSION FORMAT:

To be considered, sessions must:

Align with our conference theme;
Be interactive, thought-provoking, and action-oriented;
Fit within a 60-minute timeframe, 45 minutes for presenting and 15 minutes for audience Q&A;
Be conducted with no more than three presenters;
Be able to be delivered in person and suitable for live-streaming from Washington, DC, Oct. 16-17, 2025.

PRESENTATION TOPICS OF INTEREST:

We are looking for presentations related to the following topics:

Innovation: Exploring emerging success in technology-driven mental health treatment, AI-powered solutions, and integrating lived experience to enhance well-being and care outcomes.
Collective Impact: Exploring partnerships and alliances between groups such as governments, nonprofits, researchers, and/or community members to improve mental health outcomes and expand access to care.
Enhancing Community Well-being and Crisis Management: Discussing methods to improve community wellness, preparedness, and crisis response.
Breaking Barriers to Access: Innovative forms of community-based mental health information and care delivery - mobile health care and mobile crisis, street medicine, and mental health literacy.
Youth and Young Adults: Sharing youth-driven programs, services, policy changes, and technologies co-created or led by young people.

MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA CONFERENCE SPEAKER REQUIREMENTS:

Speakers receive a complimentary registration to attend the conference and are responsible for all travel-related expenses.
Speakers are required to attend one 30-minute meeting with an assigned session moderator in the weeks before the event.
Sessions will be livestreamed to a virtual audience. The presentation format should accommodate and engage both virtual and in-person attendees. Speakers will need to stay in view of the camera and on microphone for the duration of their presentations.
By submitting a proposal for consideration, you agree that if selected, you will be available to speak any time during Oct.16-17, 2025.
As speakers representing Mental Health America, you agree to be respectful of all attendees, speakers, volunteers, organizers, and hotel staff. Discrimination or bullying of any kind will not be tolerated, and will result in immediate removal from the conference."

Please note: Breakout sessions occur four at a time. Attendance can be anywhere from 30 - 200 people per session. Mental Health America cannot guarantee a specific headcount.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDELINES

Mental Health America will accept online applications only (click “Apply Online” below). If you have trouble completing the form, please email events@mhanational.org for assistance.

Please note: you must click "save submission" and then "submit" - once submitted, there will be a green pop-up box confirming submission has been received.

Preview Submission Form and Questions (PDF).

REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

There are 24 session spots available at this year's conference, making the selection process very competitive. The final decision on sessions selected for the 2025 conference will be made solely by Mental Health America's review team.

Acknowledgment: Once you have submitted your completed proposal, you will receive an email confirmation acknowledging receipt.
Notification: All applicants will be notified about the status of their submission by mid-May 2025.
Follow-up: Selected session presenters will be notified of next steps and given one week to accept their invitation to speak.

PROPOSAL SCORING RUBRIC

Each proposal undergoes a three-round review process by Mental Health America's proposal review team, and rated (or graded) based on the following questions:
Preview the Proposal Scoring Rubric (PDF)

Is the session description clear and well-defined? (5 points)
How well does the proposal fit into the selected topic area? (5 points)
How important, timely, and vital is the topic to our attendees? (10 points)
How action-oriented is the session? How clear, relevant, and practical are the action steps for implementing learning? (10 points)
How well does this proposal align with Mental Health America’s mission and our commitment to lived experience, equity, access, and prevention? (10 points)

Please note: All session presenters are responsible for all their travel-related expenses, including transportation and hotel accommodations. Do not submit a proposal if you cannot accept responsibility for your travel-related expenses. Speakers will have access to Mental Health America’s room block at the Capital Hilton at a discounted rate.