Skip to main content


Draft Agenda (Subject to Change)

Draft Agenda (Subject to Change)

  • Thursday, October 16, 2025
  • 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM US EST
    Coffee in Exhibit Hall
  • 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM US EST
    Workshops
  • 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM US EST
    Welcome Lunch and Opening Session

    Speaker: Schroeder Stribling – Mental Health America

  • 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM US EST
    Empowering Youth Expression: A Youth-Led, Creative Arts Program for Mental Health

    Author: Josephina Lin, MS – Harvard Medical School

    Author: Jennifer McKenzie – The Family Van, a program of Harvard Medical School

    Author: Patrick Elvariste – The Family Van, a program of Harvard Medical School

  • 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM US EST
    Open Access to Mental Health Medication: Impact to State Medicaid Budgets

    Speaker: Leigh Morrissey – Otsuka

  • 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM US EST
    Pause to Heal: A Public Education Program on Firearm Restraining Orders

    Author: Allison Baum, MBA – The Ad Council

    Author: Heather Whetsell, MBA, MSHI – Illinois Department of Public Health

    Author: Colleen Creighton, MA – Brady

  • 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM US EST
    The Rise of Pop Psychology: Navigating Misinformation in the Digital Mental Health Era

    Speaker: Israa Nasir, MHC-LP – Israa Nasir

  • 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM US EST
    Exhibit Hall Networking Break
  • 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM US EST
    Beyond Participation: Co-Creation as a Path to Meaningful Youth Mental Health Solutions

    Author: Sabrina Abdalla, M.Ed – Second Muse

  • 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM US EST
    Enhancing Community Well-being and Crisis Management for Neurodivergent Individuals: The Role of Neuroaffirming Language in Healthcare

    Author: Carina E. Mendoza, MA – UCSD Health Promotion Services

  • 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM US EST
    Partnering with School Nurses to Support Student Mental Health

    Author: Lisa Hunter Romanelli, PhD – The REACH Institute

    Author: Joanna Pitts, BSN, RN, NCSN, CNOR – Virginia Department of Health

    Author: Leah Rowland, MD, FAAP – Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Virginia Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics

  • 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM US EST
    Rural Mental Health: Unmet Needs and Opportunities for Prescription Digital Therapeutics

    Author: Lisa Palko, PharmD – Society for Digital Mental Health

    Author: Chuck Strand – Rural Minds

  • 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM US EST
    Keynote and Clifford W. Beers Awards Ceremony

    Awardee: Scott Strode

  • 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM US EST
    Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall
  • Friday, October 17, 2025
  • 8:45 AM - 9:50 AM US EST
    Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Hall
  • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM US EST
    Escucha Tus Emociones: A Community Driven Approach to Increasing Access for Emotional Healing In Latinx Communities

    Speaker: Cecilia E. Tenorio, MBE – Instituto de Políticas Públicas de Defensores Comunitarios - Escucha Tus Emociones

  • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM US EST
    Moms Are Dying: Confronting the Maternal Mental Health Crisis Through Policy & Advocacy

    Speaker: Sogand Ghassemi, MD – PrairieCare

  • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM US EST
    Putting Teens in the Driver’s Seat: Empowering Young People for Sustainable Change at the Micro, Meso, and Macro Levels

    Speaker: G Wei Ng, PhD – Our Minds Matter

    Speaker: Laura Beth Levitt, Nonprofit Management – Our Minds Matter

    Speaker: Jasmin I. Goodwin, School Without Walls HS Graduate – Our Minds Matter

  • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM US EST
    Strengthening Mental Health Systems Through Prevention and Community Support

    Speaker: Cara McNulty – Vibrant Emotional Health

  • 11:15 AM - 12:45 PM US EST
    Keynote + Awards Luncheon
  • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM US EST
    Aligning for Action: A Strategic Path to Collective Progress

    Speaker: Nancy R. Euteneuer, RN – Sourcewell

    Speaker: Charitie Herbst, MBA – Sourcewell

  • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM US EST
    Empowering Aging: Older Adult Peer-Based Mental Health Models to Enhance Care and Quality of Life

    Speaker: Kim Williams, n/a – HMA

    Speaker: Carl Blumenthal – Fountain House

    Speaker: Bill Meehan – Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Geriatric Psychiatry

  • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM US EST
    The Selfie Generation - Exploring Self Diagnosis and Social Media Among Gen Z

    Speaker: Esther Fernandez – Made of Millions Foundation

    Speaker: Courtney M. Tracy, LCSW PSYD C-PD CCTP C-DBT – Exist Centers | HighTide Mental Health | Truth Doctor Media

    Speaker: Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS – President-OCD Wisconsin | Lived Experience Council-One Mind

  • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM US EST
    Trust in 988: A Look at American Adults' Trust in Crisis Systems of Care

    Speaker: Madhuri Jha, LCSW, MPH – Thriving For All

    Speaker: Christopher W. Drapeau, PhD – Vibrant Emotional Health

    Speaker: Johnell Lawrence – Vibrant Emotional Health

  • 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM US EST
    Exhibit Hall Networking Break
  • 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM US EST
    Bridging the Gap: Community-Based Mental Health Models for Crisis Intervention and Access

    Speaker: Riquelmy N. Lamour, LCSW – SOMOS Community Care

  • 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM US EST
    Connected Care: How AI and Digital Innovations Are Transforming Mental Health Support for Families and Communities

    Speaker: Kibby McMahon, Ph.D. – KulaMind

  • 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM US EST
    Turning overdose fatality review (OFR) recommendations into action: Preventing overdoses with non-traditional partners.

    Speaker: Emily A. Godfrey, MPH – CDC Foundation

    Speaker: Nava Bastola, MPH – CDC foundation

  • 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM US EST
    Youth-Driven Mental Health Policymaking for System Transformation

    Speaker: Abhinav Anne – World Health Organization

    Speaker: Sai Ganbote – Aurora Youth Council & Chicago Youth 4 Neuro

    Speaker: Michael J. Stiehl, MS – Chapin Hall

  • 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM US EST
    Closing Keynote

    Awardee: Aria Rani Sindledecker

    Speaker: Maximiliano Delgado – Mental Health America's Young Leaders Council

    Speaker: Margaret Garcia – Mental Health America's Young Leaders Council

    Speaker: Cadon Sagendorf – Mental Health America's Young Leaders Council

    Speaker: Oleksandr “Alex” Sharlai – Mental Health America's Young Leaders Council