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Mental Health Summit

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Local Events Database

We like to connect Hoosiers to mental health-focused events and opportunities in their area. We encourage those utilizing the event database to check with event organizers to confirm the status of scheduled events and programs. Please click here to submit your event.

past events

November 20, 2023

Riley Children's Health "Racing to Respond" Indianapolis Premiere

Event Snapshot

Riley Children’s Health hosted the Indianapolis premiere of Riley’s documentary Racing to Respond at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 20, 2023. This event—one of six in the series of premieres—brought together over 1000 attendees to view the powerful film that features two Hoosier families who have been intimately impacted by mental health disorders and highlights the statewide need for change and improvement in the mental health system’s standards of care and treatment practices.

3 Big Takeaways

1

The documentary follows Randy and Angie Eugenio, who lost their son Tate to suicide in 2021, and Jaqueline and Shawn Scott, who give viewers insight into what life with mental illness can look like for a Hoosier family, as they tell their stories to bring about increased awareness of the needs and challenges faced by Indiana youth and their families. IU School of Medicine’s Department Chair of Psychiatry, Dr. Leslie Hulvershorn, MD and Dr. Michele Thorne, PhD share their perspectives as care providers about current failings in the mental health system and propose solutions to improve the system.

2

After the documentary showing, Riley Children’s Health Chief Strategy Officer, Tyler Leishman, moderated a panel consisting of the families and practitioners spotlighted in the film to discuss ways to address mental health needs of youth and work toward a more effective mental health system.

3

Riley Children’s Health has led the development of a statewide pediatric behavioral health plan and provided access to this plan to event attendees and invited the audience to participate in the work of bringing about improved youth mental health and become involved as Riley Child Health Champions.

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November 14-15, 2023

Event Snapshot

This year’s annual Indiana Youth Institute’s Kids Count Conference took place in Indianapolis on November 14-15, 2023, bringing together over 1000 youth workers and other youth-oriented stakeholders from across Indiana for professional development around serving youth regarding education, mental and physical health, community, formation, and programming.

3 Big Takeaways

1

Keynote speakers widely renowned science educator Bill Nye and elementary principal Dr. Belinda George gave inspiring talks to conference attendees, encouraging them to not underestimate the power of their choices in creating ripple effects that can, ultimately, change the world for the better.

2

The current state of youth mental health was addressed in multiple session topics ranging from understanding the data around social factors influencing mental health to addressing needs through youth empowerment; culture and systems change; and improvement of youth worker, educator, and family wellbeing.

3

Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) acts as a major change agent to improve the lives of Indiana’s children through data dispersal, education efforts, connection of people and organizations, and advocacy.

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October 30, 2023

Mental Health America of Indianapolis Inaugural Annual Fall Breakfast

Event Snapshot

Mental Health America Indianapolis held their first Annual Fall Breakfast on October 30, 2023, at Martin University. This event arose in an effort to connect multiple stakeholders around Indianapolis involved in mental health work and, this year, to honor the 2023 Vitality Grant awardees.

3 Big Takeaways

1

The purpose of the Vitality Grant is to increase capacity and funding for programs and projects that support mental health systems reform and/or juvenile justice in Indianapolis.

2

The first round of the Vitality Grant opened and was awarded in the summer of 2023; a second round will open and be awarded in the summer of 2024. Funding has been made possible for this grant through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

3

15 organizations have been awarded funding from this round, and their information, project and program descriptions, and funding amounts are linked on MHA Indy’s website.

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October 24-25, 2023

Indiana annual prevention conference: many voices, one vision

Event Snapshot

On October 24-25, 2023, the Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) held The Indiana Annual Prevention Conference: Many Voices, One Vision at the Dallara IndyCar Factory in Speedway, IN. Gathering a variety of stakeholders present in the field of substance use prevention, this two-day conference featured sessions on programming and data in the prevention field, national best practices from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and details regarding DMHA’s Community Substance Misuse Prevention Services grant opportunity.

3 Big Takeaways

1

Jay Chaudhary, Director of the Division of Mental Health, stated in his opening remarks that prevention is an education issue; through such work, addiction can end before it begins.

2

Evidence-based prevention programming in Indiana runs the gamut of target demographics and exists on multiple levels (e.g., state and local organizations) and in multiple sectors (e.g., education, public health, nonprofit, etc.) for a comprehensive approach to addressing substance use.

3

The Community Substance Misuse Prevention Services grant—funded by the SAMHSA Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Garant and administered through DMHA—invites nonprofit organizations, local governments, and academic institutions to apply for funding to support the implementation of prevention strategies in Indiana communities; the request for funding application is open from October 26, 2023, through December 8, 2023, and anticipates awarding 20-30 proposals.

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September 29, 2023

Shatterproof Treatment Atlas Launch

Event Snapshot

At an event wrapping up National Recovery Month on Friday, September 29, 2023, Governor Eric Holcomb announced the beginning of Indiana’s use of Shatterproof Treatment Atlas (Addiction Treatment Locator, Assessment, and Standards) platform, which will help connect Hoosiers with appropriate treatment for substance use disorder. Other event speakers included Douglas Huntsinger, the Executive Director for Drug Prevention, Treatment and Enforcement and Chairman of the Indiana Commission to Combat Substance Use Disorder; Jay Chaudhary, Director of the Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Dr. Abigail Mercer, Director of State Engagement for Shatterproof Atlas; and Emmanuel and Carol Merchiers, Hoosier parents who lost their son to an overdose.

3 Big Takeaways

1

At no cost to the platform user, Treatment Atlas allows individuals to search for care for themselves or someone else by location and through the option of completing a short, anonymous assessment that helps tailor treatment options to the needs of the individual.

2

Over 600 state-licensed treatment facilities are listed on the platform. In addition to contact information for treatment options (i.e., location, telephone number, and website), individuals can learn about the types of services provided, payment options available, demographics served, and support services offered by the facilities.

3

Indiana joins 12 other states in using Treatment Atlas under platform management from Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization working to address the addiction crisis facing the United States. Funding for Indiana’s participation comes from the Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction. 

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September 11, 2023

Mental health awareness with former congressman patrick j. kennedy

Event Snapshot

On September 11, 2023, Butler University, the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable, Sagamore Institute, the State of Indiana, and Zydowsky Consultants hosted former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy at Clowes Memorial Hall for a discussion on mental health and addiction awareness. An audience of Butler students, stakeholders involved in Indiana’s mental health and addictions work, and the grea ter Indianapolis community participated in the conversation via the opportunity to share their thoughts and ask questions via Q&A technology.

3 Big Takeaways

1

Drawing on his own experiences with mental illness and addiction in combination with his service in public office, Kennedy shared his perspective on the impact of mental health issues and addiction in America, including the need for these issues to be treated as a public health crisis.

2

In his first book, A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction, which he referenced during the conversation, Kennedy revealed his personal and familial struggles with mental health and addiction; in his upcoming book, Profiles in Mental Health Courage, Kennedy will share the stories of 20 individuals and their families regarding their bravery in navigating mental health struggles.

3

As an advocate for increased mental health support at the systems level, Kennedy calls for insurance parity, more funding allocation to the reimbursement of mental health care costs, better pay for providers who utilize evidence-based practices in their treatment, and special interest groups around and prioritization of mental health in the political sphere.

Read More

JUNE 27-28, 2023

INDIANA MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION CONFERENCE

Event Snapshot

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction partnered with the Indiana Recovery Network to host the inaugural Indiana Mental Health and Addiction Conference. The conference highlighted initiatives in prevention, treatment, and recovery of mental illnesses and substance abuse around the state of Indiana. Attendees included health professionals, healthcare providers, recovery organizations, legal professionals, state and local officials, researchers, and more.

3 Big Takeaways

1

Indiana has renewed and sharpened its focus on mental health and substance abuse in the last three years. Prior to this renewed focus, these two crises were vastly underestimated; even the grim statistics—IN spends about $4 billion on untreated mental illness—do not do justice to the issue. On the legislative side, the Indiana Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill I in 2022, which provided $50 million dollars for efforts in prevention, treatment, and recovery. Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch and Senator Michael Crider spoke about the bill, noting that it provided the tools for organizations in attendance at the conference and around the state to further their work.

2

A priority of organizations working in all three lanes—prevention, treatment, and recovery—is to ensure that mental health and substance abuse are not criminalized. As such, there is a need to provide individuals with resources–someone to call, someone to respond, and somewhere safe to go–outside of the legal system. Organizations such as HART, social work implementation in police departments, and STRIDE, are all crisis-oriented, meaning they respond to individuals who are perceived to cause a threat to their immediate community. These organizations then provide the necessary resources without placing them within the legal system.

3

For every $1 spent in prevention, $11 dollars is saved in treatment. As such, there is a renewed focus on primary prevention, that is, prevention targeted at students in primary and secondary schools. A strategy which saw success in various organizations is educating the youth on the actual statistics of alcohol and drug use at their age. In almost every study (pre-prevention curriculum), students estimated that the amount of their peers using alcohol and drugs was significantly higher than the actual amount. When students think that “everyone is doing it,” they are much more likely to engage in that behavior themselves. Also, organizations found that younger students (elementary-early middle school) responded much better to prevention curriculum. When students reach high school age, they are relatively set in their perceptions and opinions.

Read More

https://www.in.gov/recovery/IMHAC2023/

JUNE 14, 2023

Youth Emerging Stronger Summit

Event Snapshot

The Indiana Department of Education and Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction partnered with the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation and the Health Care Foundation of La Porte to host the Youth Emerging Stronger (YES!) Summit. The event discussed the work being done to alleviate the mental health epidemic in schools and communities in Indiana. Attendees learned how educational leaders, community stakeholders, and funders have been working to implement preventative, evidenced-based frameworks and programs in Indiana schools.

3 Big Takeaways

1

The Conference highlighted results from the recent Indiana youth survey which revealed that 40% of students reported that they felt sad or hopeless. Further, Indiana ranks 26th in the nation when it comes to the prevalence of mental health among youth and access to care.

2

Dr. Brandie Oliver from Butler University discussed the Comprehensive School Mental Health Framework that the Butler College of Education has crafted. This framework is a Multi-Tiered System of support that has four phases: universal intervention, selective intervention, indicated intervention, and treatment. This layered approach offers a roadmap for stakeholders to address every necessary stage of mental health prevention and treatment.

3

Speakers from the Department of Education and Richard Fairbanks Foundation introduced Project Aware, an initiative consisting of three, multi-year grants funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Project Aware is being administered by the Indiana DOE and Department of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) to reshape how mental health education and awareness are practiced in schools and communities. The project has invested $25.2 million dollars in infrastructure, capacity building, and tiered interventions across Indiana.

Read More

https://yessummit.today/

May 16, 2023

Mental Health Summit

Event Snapshot

The inaugural Indiana Roundtable on Mental Health Summit, held on May 16, 2023, hosted over 500 attendees representing 200+ unique organizations or agencies from across the state of Indiana to learn alongside one another how to address the mental health and substance use crisis faced by Hoosiers. The day’s content centered around the intersection of mental health and youth, faith, and workforce.

3 Big Takeaways

1

Multiple Indiana Mental Health Roundtable members, including Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, Chief Justice Loretta Rush, Jay Chaudhary, Steve Simon, Dr. Allison Barber, Kalen Jackson, and Dr. Jerome Adams, participated in plenary sessions with guest speakers Dr. Monty Burks, Donna Jackson Nakazawa, Scott McCorkle, and professional Hoosier athletes to offer insight into current mental health issues and discuss potential solutions.

2

Breakout sessions featured a variety of experts and perspectives from faith communities, behavioral healthcare workforce, and youth professionals sharing knowledge about best practices and innovative ideas for meeting the needs of Hoosier individuals and families across the lifespan through multiple service areas (i.e. school, church, medical institutions, community organizations, etc.).

3

Governor Eric Holcomb held a ceremonial signing of the 2023 Indiana General Assembly’s Senate Bill 1, authored by Senator Michael Crider, and House Bill 1006, authored by Representative Gregory Steuerwald, to honor the historic prioritization of promotion of mental health in Indiana legislature. During the signing, additional key stakeholders from organizations such as Mental Health America of Indiana and the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers, state agencies such as the Division of Mental Health and Addiction, and IMHR members joined Governor Holcomb on stage to demonstrate their support for these enacted documents.

Read More

https://mentalhealthroundtable.org/2023-mental-health-summit/

May 4, 2023

HHS Summit: Support is Here to Strengthen Mental Health

Event Snapshot

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) held the HHS Summit: Support is Here to Strengthen Mental Health in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, May 4, 2023 to highlight work being done under the current presidential administration on national, state, and local levels to strengthen mental health. Through a series of fireside chats and panels, leaders in the field of mental health discussed progress around three key pillars that drive the vision for mental health support around the country: strengthening system capacity through workforce development, connecting people to the care they need, and creating healthy environments.

3 Big Takeaways

1

HHS announced the launch of FindSupport.gov, an online hub that connects site visitors with resources for finding care for mental health or substance use issues, learning about signs that show mental health support may be beneficial, navigating treatment and cost options, and accessing SAMHSA’s National Helpline or the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

2

Days prior to this conference, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued the Surgeon General’s Advisory report, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” informing Americans about the negative impacts of loneliness on the physical and mental health of the population and providing stakeholders with recommendations for advancing social connection to combat this epidemic. Ensuring that people with mental health and/or substance use issues have connection to care and access to healthy environments that foster positive social relationships links directly to the Surgeon General’s recommendations.

3

Speakers from government agencies such as Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and Administration for Children and Families (ACF) alongside non-profit organizations like National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and National Association of Counties (NACo) provided insight into independent and collaborative initiatives and resources for further learning for summit attendees.

Read More

https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/05/secretary-becerra-announces-new-initiatives-hhs-mental-health-summit-to-strengthen-access-to-mental-health-care.html

March 9, 2023

Irsay Institute Kickoff

Event Snapshot

Indiana University President Pamela Whitten, Indianapolis Colts Vice Chair/Owner Kalen Jackson, and Irsay Institute Director Bernice Pescosolido teamed up to formally introduce the Irsay Institute on March 9, 2023. Additionally, event attendees were invited to tour the facility—located in the newly renovated Morrison Hall on Indiana University’s Bloomington campus—and speak with both graduate and undergraduate students involved in the institute as well as IU faculty and representatives from key partnerships with the institute.

3 Big Takeaways

1

The Irsay Institute will bring transdisciplinary innovation into multiple sectors surrounding health and healthcare through the avenues of research, training and workforce development, and social change.

2

The Irsay family gave a $3 million gift toward the Irsay Institute to promote and provide opportunity for the work of reducing stigma around mental health challenges, increasing preventative care and practices in the field of mental health, and expanding quality treatment options.

3

Dr. Pescosolido highlighted partnerships between the Irsay Institute and a variety of organizations, including those involved with national mental health/mental illness campaigns—like The Indianapolis Colts’ Kicking the Stigma Initiative—data collection and analysis, youth advocacy groups, training and mentorship, adult mental health programs, IU Health and IU School of Medicine, and the State of Indiana.

Read More

https://news.iu.edu/live/news/28175-iu-opens-research-institute-addressing-stigma

October 21, 2022

Indiana Mental Health Summit

Event Snapshot

Indiana Supreme Court Justice Loretta Rush convened the first Indiana Mental Health Summit on October 21, 2022 in Indianapolis. The event focused on how courts and jails can work with multiple mental health system stakeholders to avoid incarcerating Hoosiers whose mental illness can be addressed more effectively in communities.

3 Big Takeaways

1

The conference highlighted findings from the recent Behavioral Health Commission report that found untreated mental illnesses in Indiana cost the state $4.2 billion annually.

2

State leaders advocated for a $1 per month surcharge on phone bills to pay for a 988 mental health hotline.  Note: this replicates the effective 911 surcharge.

3

Gov. Holcomb, Senate Pro Tem Roderic Bray and House Speaker Todd Huston each committed their leadership to make this issue a priority in the 2023 legislative session.

Read More

https://www.wishtv.com/news/local-news/indiana-convention-center-hosts-historic-2022-indiana-mental-health-summit/

September 17, 2022

Indiana Conference on Citizenship

Event Snapshot

On September 17, 2022, Sagamore Institute hosted its 7th annual Indiana Conference on Citizenship, where Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch teamed up with the Indianapolis Colts to launch the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable.

3 Big Takeaways

Read More

https://sagamoreinstitute.org/indiana-conference-on-citizenship-2021/