May is

Mental Health Awareness Month!

Mental Health Awareness Month is a crucial time to challenge misconceptions and foster understanding about mental health conditions. While we've made strides toward dismantling stigma around mental illness, an equally important conversation centers on mental health clinical research as a viable care option. Clinical research is essential to advancing new treatments and improving outcomes for those living with mental health conditions. Yet, persistent stigma often prevents individuals from considering clinical trials as an option.

Mental Health Awareness Month provides an ideal opportunity to educate the community about the safety, benefits, and necessity of clinical research participation. By openly discussing and promoting clinical trials, we can break down fears and misconceptions, empowering individuals to explore innovative therapies and contribute to scientific advancement. Participation in clinical research not only offers potential personal benefits but also supports the broader mental health community by aiding the discovery of more effective treatments.

This month, speak openly about mental illness and highlight

mental health clinical research as a critical component of care.

Together, we can transform perceptions, inspire hope, and

drive progress toward better mental health for all.

Organize a community event, mental health screening, or a Q&A on mental health topics. Offer free refreshments and giveaways.

Sign up a team for your local NAMI Walk and make signage and t shirts.

Buy lime, green ribbons for mental health awareness to hand out to your staff and volunteers. Maybe add your site logo or a QR code to your website or special offer.

Offer a community movie screening. Choose a movie that highlights mental health healing (Silver Linings Playbook, Inside Out, Lars and the Real Girl, A Beautiful Mind, Fight Club, etc.).

Designate a day to celebrate. For example, pick a Friday to give out green cupcakes or donuts or a gluten free alternative.

Load up your social media post schedule with mental health awareness facts.

Offer special mindfulness or meditation training in honor of mental health awareness month.

🎗 Mental Health Awareness Month is when mental health news and promotions are at their peak... and the best time for ALL OF US to use this opportunity to promote our work and talk about how important mental health research is. 🎗

May 4-10, 2025 is

Children’s Mental Health

Action Week

Each year, during the first full week of May, the National Federation of Families takes the lead in celebrating the mental health of children and youth. This year Children's Mental Health Action Week (CMHAW) is a call to action. The campaign theme, "That's a WRAP!", focuses on Wellness, Resilience, Action, and Purpose.

Awareness is not enough -- let's all take action to create lasting change. Every action - supporting a friend or loved one, practicing self-care, modeling wellness for others, or reaching out for help - matters. What can you do this May to inspire meaningful positive change for yourself, for your community, and for the children and youth in your life?

Learn more about the National Federation of Families 2025 campaign HERE and take ACTION this month! ❤

Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) Awareness Week

May 4th – 10th, 2025

Why Does Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) Awareness Week Matter?

Despite the fact that more than 500,000 people in the United States are affected by TD, the condition is still widely unknown or misunderstood due to a lack of public awareness.

Recognition of Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week will help promote greater awareness about the impact and burden of TD, both for the public and those who may be at risk of developing the condition. Increased awareness will support people living with TD, their caregivers and their communities.

Let’s make TD visible—because silence only allows suffering to grow. The earlier TD is identified, the sooner effective treatment can beginand that can mean the difference between manageable symptoms and long-term complications. Medications are available that can significantly reduce the severity of TD, helping people continue on their path to recovery with confidence and dignity.

This Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week, be the reason someone gets the help they need: share this information, start a conversation, and help us spread the word that TD is real, it’s treatable, and no one should face it alone.

Resources for Tardive Dyskinesia:

• Sounds Like TD – Teva’s excellent website for resources and support for individuals with TD and their caregivers.
• HealthGrades TD Video Center — Expert Perspectives on TD
• National Organization for Tardive Dyskinesia (NOTD)

Mental Health Action Day focuses on youths and young adults and was founded to shift mental health culture from awareness to action, spreading the message that, just like our physical health, we can take actions to improve our mental health.



What can you do for Mental Health Action Day?

• Encourage and empower your community to take #MentalHealthAction in whatever way feels right for them. That can mean taking time to connect with themselves, connecting with a friend or family member, practicing yoga, meditation or other self-calming activities, finding a support group or therapist. Or it can mean taking an action to support systemic change that improves mental health access and equity. There are many ways to encourage people to take mental health action and improve overall well-being.
• Highlight free and easily accessible resources. Remember that therapy, telehealth options and support groups are not easily accessible for everyone. Highlight actions that are free and open to all including setting aside time for self-calming activities, taking an action to expand equity and access to mental health services, or direct them to a Mental Health Action Network partner that provides free resources.
• Emphasize that mental health is a part of overall health. Remind people that, just as there are things they do to take care of their physical health, there are things they can do to take care of their mental health.

Are you going to be in LA for APA?

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating what's possible as we showcase the

extraordinary talents of individuals within the schizophrenia community.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, we are proud to present the Express Your PosSCZible Talent Showcase.

Through music, visual art, comedy, and more, our inspiring lineup will share powerful stories and unique perspectives through performance.

This free event welcomes individuals living with schizophrenia, their family and friends,care partners, mental health advocates, and all allies supporting the community.

Registration is required and space is limited.

Reserve your spot now.

Download the pdf flyer for the registration link and to hand out at mental health organizations in LA!

Due to restrictions regarding events involving healthcare professionals, this event is intended for a non-HCP audience.

Clinical Trials Day is May 20th. This is a day set aside to reflect on the incredible contributions that clinical research has made to medicine and public health. The date commemorates the start of the first documented randomized clinical trial in 1747, when James Lind, a Scottish naval surgeon, conducted a study that ultimately led to the prevention of scurvy among sailors.

Since 2014, ACRP has promoted Clinical Trials Day to recognize the vital role that clinical trials play in advancing science and improving lives. It’s also a day to celebrate the dedication, compassion, and professionalism of the clinical research community—investigators, coordinators, nurses, patient volunteers, and all who make this important work possible. ❤

World Schizophrenia Day is observed each year on May 24 to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding the illness.

Most of you reading this are familiar with schizophrenia; maybe you know someone living with the brain disorder, you're working with or have worked with people with schizophrenia, or at least have some familiarity with the symptoms.

SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE! Help others understand this serious mental illness.

We propose that for this year's World Schizophrenia Day, you do at least one of the following:

• On Instagram, check out and follow @SchizophrenicHippie and/or @Schizophrenic.NYC
• On YouTube, watch RachelStarLive's Ask A Schizophrenic-Answers (it's long, but good)
• Podcasts! Listen to an episode (or 2) of Unseen & Unheard or Inside Schizophrenia
• Put on some headphones and do the STARR's Auditory Hallucination Simulation empathy exercise. We'll post a link for FREE ACCESS on World Schizophrenia Day (1 day only).

On Saturday, May 24th, talk about World Schizophrenia Day with everyone you encounter.

You can say, "Happy World Schizophrenia Day!" to open a conversation.

You can help reduce the stigma.

Mental Health Awareness Month Spotlight: A Mother’s Fight: Advocating for Compassion in Mental Health Care

By Sherry Zak, PhD, RN

Director of Nursing, Asst Professor of Nursing, Director of Health Services

Waynesburg University

I remember the moment so vividly—the sterile hum of emergency room monitors still echoes in my memory. A nurse gently asked my son, “Do you ever hear or see anything that other people cannot see or hear, or that you know isn’t there?

In my heart, I already knew the answer. But when Joshua softly said “yes,” I closed my eyes and exhaled a long, heavy breath. As a nurse, I understood the weight of what might come next.

Joshua Parsons—my son—was often described as “an old soul.” Looking back, though he was never formally diagnosed with autism, I sometimes wonder if he had traits along the spectrum. As a family, we said he marched to the beat of his own drum.

Joshua struggled with depression and substance use disorder, and shortly after his 21st birthday, he was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. That hospitalization in the behavioral health unit opened a door to truths he had been carrying alone for years. He had been experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations since he was about sixteen.

As a mother and a nurse, it shattered me to know he had been suffering in silence. When I asked him why he hadn’t told me sooner, his response hurt more than the diagnosis itself:

“I didn’t want to be labeled as crazy or have people look at me differently. But it’s getting harder to function—I can’t keep it in anymore.”

For the next six years, Joshua fought courageously to build a meaningful life while living with schizoaffective disorder. On May 22, 2023, that battle ended. In a desperate attempt to quiet the internal noise, he left this world.

I can’t speak to what it’s like to live with schizoaffective disorder. Still, I can talk about what it’s like to be a caregiver—a mother and a nurse—watching someone you love struggle for proper treatment, compassion, and dignity in our behavioral health system.

The truth is, our healthcare system is broken. People with substance use disorders or severe mental illnesses are too often met with judgment instead of empathy. Rather than being treated with the same urgency and respect as those with physical conditions, they’re marginalized, misunderstood, and frequently dismissed. My son experienced this firsthand—enduring impersonal care, waiting endlessly for the proper medications, and fighting to be seen as more than just a diagnosis.

Despite everything, Joshua and I turned our pain into purpose. Together, we spoke to nursing students about our journey—a mother and son navigating the complexities of mental illness with love, frustration, and unwavering hope. Joshua often expressed how much he worried about me, the emotional toll his care was taking on my life. And I would share how helpless and angry I felt that, even as a nurse, I couldn’t fix what was hurting him.

Through those conversations, we had a straightforward mission: to make people see Joshua as a human being who deserved love, understanding, and dignity. We hoped that by sharing our story, we could help future nurses view patients with mental health disorders through a more compassionate, human lens.

And yet, Joshua was determined and capable. He attended nursing school, passed his boards, and achieved so much despite the overwhelming weight of his condition.

Please, never underestimate the strength or potential of those living with mental health disorders. A diagnosis does not define them. They are people with dreams, resilience, and a profound capacity for love and contribution. ❤

Why do you think it’s important for people to learn more about schizophrenia?

Well, I think a lot of people aren’t even aware that they have it. And it could be better for them to know the symptoms, so they can live a better life.

What has this clinical trial experience been like for you?

Great! The staff is friendly, you eat 4 times a day, and you get to watch Netflix all day. Also, it gives you a break from life, so you can get help and collect your thoughts.

Is there anything you’d like others to understand better about living with schizophrenia or mental health in general?

Well, it’s tough to live with it. All you can do is get it under control and learn the correct ways to cope with it.

-         E. P., research volunteer at Segal Trials

Boehringer Ingelheim, the University of Oxford and Cumulus Neuroscience have launched a study to monitor brain activity in individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) using new technology. The study will offer insights into the daily experiences of individuals with psychiatric disorders. It aims to assess the acceptability of new technology designed to quantify the mood, behavior and activity of the brain, and aid new therapeutic research and development.

Bristol Myers says schizophrenia drug launch ‘off to a solid start’ with net sales of Cobenfy totaling $27 million in the first quarter, handily beating Wall Street expectations. This, despite a late-stage study finding Cobenfy wasn’t better than a placebo as an add-on to atypical antipsychotics. “Although Cobenfy did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement as an adjunctive treatment in this trial, the data are encouraging,” said Husseini Manji, a professor in Oxford University’s psychiatry department and co-chair of the U.K. government’s Mental Health Goals program. “These findings warrant additional follow up and may provide valuable direction in our ongoing search for complementary approaches to address these persistent treatment gaps.”

Spinogenix Inc. opened its enrollment in March for a Phase 2 trial of SPG302, the first potential regenerative treatment for individuals with schizophrenia, after it received clearance of an Investigational New Drug application by the FDA. The U.S.- and Australia-based trial will evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of 300 mg of SPG302 (two capsules of 150 mg, once daily), compared against a placebo, for six weeks. This novel medication aims to restore glutamatergic synapses—key connections between neurons that allow people to think, plan, remember, and control movement. Spinogenix is also exploring the potential of SPG302 for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

LB Pharmaceuticals announced additional positive data from NOVA, a phase 2 study evaluating LB-102 in acute schizophrenia, at the 2025 Annual Congress of the Schizophrenia International Research Society held in Chicago from March 29 to April 2.1 LB-102 provided significant improvement in disease severity, as demonstrated by the mean change from baseline in Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI-S) scores.

Reunion Neuroscience Presents REKINDLE, a Phase 2 Clinical Trial Evaluating RE104 for the Treatment of Adjustment Disorder (AjD) in Cancer and Other Medical Illnesses at the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) 2025 Conference. Current treatments for AjD are not consistently effective, and there are no therapies presently approved by the FDA for its treatment. With RE104, the only psychedelic therapeutic in advanced clinical development for an AjD indication in the United States, Reunion Neuroscience aims to offer patients an effective, safe and fast-acting psychotropic medication to relieve distress and dysfunction in patients with AjD.

A new preclinical-stage biotechnology company, Transneural Therapeutics, just announced its launch on April 22, 2025. Transneural aims to transform the treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases with novel neuroplastogens, in particular recognizing the potential of 5-HT2A agonism to treat these conditions. The company's lead asset is TN-001, a dual 5-HT2A partial agonist/5-HT2B antagonist with serotonergic receptor engagement created to deliver rapid and enduring antidepressant effects that rival psychedelic treatment without the risk of hallucinations or dissociative adverse effects.

Psilocybin shows promise for improving motor function and mood in Parkinson's patients. silocybin, a natural compound found in certain mushrooms, has shown promise in treating depression and anxiety. UC San Francisco researchers found that Parkinson's patients not only tolerate the drug without serious side effects or worsening symptoms, which is what the pilot study was designed to test, but they also experienced clinically significant improvements in mood, cognition, and motor function that lasted for weeks after the drug was out of their systems.

Single-dose psychedelic enhances cognitive flexibility and reversal learning in mice weeks after administration. University of Michigan researchers have discovered that a single dose of a psychedelic compound can enhance cognitive flexibility—the brain's ability to adapt to changing circumstances—for weeks after administration, potentially revolutionizing treatments for depression, PTSD, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Study finds psychedelics can reverse neuroimmune interactions that boost fear. Mass General Brigham researchers found that interactions between immune and brain cells drive fear responses, but treatment with psychedelics like MDMA and psilocybin may reverse these effects. The new study suggests that fear and the immune system are connected in previously unknown ways. The researchers found that the immune system can influence stress and fear behaviors by changing how brain cells communicate.

Modifying LSD to Minimize Hallucinogenic Properties Results in a Potential New Drug Candidate for Schizophrenia. Researchers modified the LSD molecule to create a new drug called JRT that appears to have little or no hallucinogenic potential yet retains some of the potentially pro-cognitive therapeutic impact of some hallucinogens, including the potential to address the negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.

New study reveals potential biological link between cannabis and psychosis. Despite evidence that individuals with a cannabis use disorder (CUD) are at elevated risk of psychosis and that the neurotransmitter dopamine has a role in psychosis, the mechanism linking cannabis use and psychosis remains unclear. In this cohort study including 61 individuals, participants with cannabis use disorder exhibited increased neuromelanin–magnetic resonance imaging signals in specific voxels of the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area (SN/VTA). This subregion has previously shown elevated signals associated with untreated psychotic symptoms.

'Network temperature' as a metric of stability in depression symptoms across adolescence. Depression is characterized by diverse symptom combinations that can be represented as dynamic networks. While previous research has focused on central symptoms for targeted interventions, less attention has been given to whole-network properties. Researchers out of the UK show that ‘network temperature’, a novel measure of psychological network stability, captures symptom alignment across adolescence—a critical period for depression onset.

A new USC study suggests that gut imbalances in children with autism may create an imbalance of metabolites in the digestive system—ultimately disrupting neurotransmitter production and influencing behavioral symptoms. This research adds to a growing body of science implicating the "gut-brain" axis in autism. 

Probiotics linked to reduced negative feelings, offering potential mental health benefits. Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design in 88 healthy volunteers, researchers conducted a comprehensive study into effects of a multispecies probiotic on emotion regulation and mood through questionnaires, emotional processing tests and daily reports. They found evidence that probiotics reduce negative mood, starting after two weeks, based on daily monitoring, but few other changes.

Antidepressant Monotherapy in Bipolar Disorder Boosts Depression Risk. A population study involving more than 100,000 individuals with bipolar disorder revealed that many common treatments for the condition failed to reduce risk of depressive episodes that require hospitalization. By contrast, lithium reduced the risk of hospitalization for depression, mania, and somatic reasons.

Technology use by older adults linked to reduced dementia risk. A meta-analysis of technology use and cognitive aging reviewing more than 136 studies with data that encompassed over 400,000 adults, and longitudinal studies with an average of 6 years of follow-up data, neuroscientists at Baylor University and the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School found compelling evidence that digital technology use is associated with better cognitive aging outcomes, rather than harm.

The 'nocebo gap' in health care: perceived discrimination's impact on medication side effects. A new study out of the UK has uncovered a link between patients' experiences of discrimination in health care settings and the likelihood of them experiencing negative side effects from their medication. Researchers found that individuals from Black, Asian, and other Minority Ethnic groups who reported feeling discriminated against by their GP were more likely to experience medication side effects and were less likely to take their medication as prescribed. This "nocebo gap" in understanding could have significant implications for medication adherence and health equity within diverse populations.

Sen. Bill Cassidy’s report calls on Congress to improve the transparency of the drug discount program in a move praised by pharmaceutical companies and criticized by hospitals. The chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee released a long-anticipated report calling for Congress to reform 340B drug discounts, citing concerns about transparency and oversight of the program. The report from Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., found mixed evidence for how hospitals use 340B funds, with two health systems studied generating millions of dollars in 340B revenue but not passing those savings along to patients. The report also found contract pharmacies charge 340B entities a “complex range of fees” for dispensing drugs, diverting funds from patients. Meanwhile, drug manufacturers interviewed for the analysis said they struggled to ensure the discount program’s integrity, like preventing duplicate discounts or serving ineligible patients.  

Arkansas passes law banning PBMs from owning pharmacies. The law in particular will affect CVS and UnitedHealth, both of which operate physical pharmacies in the state along with specialty and mail-order pharmacy businesses. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a first-of-its-kind law last week preventing pharmacy benefit managers from owning or operating pharmacies, as states increasingly move to restrict controversial business practices of the powerful drug middlemen. The legislation was decried by PBMs, which say it will impede pharmaceutical access in the state. Yet, other states could follow suit. Bills with similar provisions were recently introduced in Vermont, Texas and New York, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association.

PatientView released 'The Corporate Reputation of Pharma, 2024/25' report, encompassing feedback from 2,546 patient groups collected from December 2024 to March 2025. The report offers critical insights for pharmaceutical companies aiming to enhance patient engagement and corporate reputation. Notably, 86% of these groups reported active collaborations with at least one pharmaceutical company, underscoring the industry's extensive reach. For pharmaceutical companies, these insights emphasize the importance of building long-term, capacity-enhancing partnerships with patient groups, moving beyond transactional interactions. Aligning corporate strategies with patient expectations and regulatory trends is crucial for sustaining and improving the industry's reputation.

Changes to HHS and NIH Grants Policy Announced. On April 16, HHS issued a new grants policy statement, effective immediately and superseding the previous version released in October 2024. Among significant changes to the policy, HHS states that recipients who receive a federal grant award will not “operate any programs that advance or promote DEI, DEIA, or discriminatory equity ideology in violation of Federal anti-discrimination laws” or engage in a “discriminatory prohibited boycott” during the term of the award and that HHS “reserves the right to terminate financial assistance awards and claw back all funds” if these conditions are not met. While the HHS policy is not applicable to NIH grants, which are governed by the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement, on April 21 NIH released a similar update as HHS to their term and condition of award. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it will not create a new autism registry, reversing an earlier announcement from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH will now move forward with a $50 million project to better understand autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other chronic diseases using existing data from which information identifying individual patients has been removed. NIH will partner with agencies like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), CBS News reported. "These efforts are not about tracking individuals. All NIH-managed databases follow the highest standards of security and privacy, with the protection of personal health information as a top priority," the NIH explained.

The GAMIAN-Europe report, Advancing Digital Mental Health Interventions for Schizophrenia, offers critical insights for U.S. pharmaceutical companies exploring digital therapeutics in mental health. It highlights the potential of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs)—including AI-driven tools, smartphone applications, and virtual reality—to enhance schizophrenia care by improving symptom management, preventing relapses, and supporting recovery. Notably, interventions like AVATAR therapy for auditory hallucinations and SloMo for paranoia have demonstrated high user engagement and satisfaction, indicating promising avenues for digital augmentation of traditional treatments.​

The report underscores the necessity of integrating DMHIs into clinical practice through collaborative development involving patients, clinicians, and developers. It emphasizes that while DMHIs can revolutionize mental health care, they should complement, not replace, face-to-face interactions. Key challenges identified include ensuring the safety, privacy, and quality of DMHIs, particularly those available on the open market, and addressing the slow integration of these tools into existing care models. For pharmaceutical companies, this presents opportunities to invest in the development of validated digital tools, establish partnerships for co-creation, and advocate for regulatory frameworks that facilitate the safe and effective integration of DMHIs into mental health care.​

Adolescent Mental Health Video from Pfizer & Rural Minds Wins Award! The adolescent mental health video developed through a partnership between Pfizer, Rural Minds, and the National Grange – “Closing the Mental Health Gap Among Rural Youth in the U.S.” – won Gold for the Best Healthcare Program at the U.S. Edition of the Native Advertising Awards 2025. According to the Native Advertising Institute’s website, “The Native Advertising Awards celebrate the art and science of storytelling that resonates – honoring the most innovative, effective, and captivating work in our industry.” Check out the 5 minute video, which features National Grange Youth member Asheton and her mother, Debbie, here.

There is still time to organize your team for this year's

NAMIWalks Spring United Day of Hope!

On May 17th, communities across the country come together for NAMIWalks Spring United Day of Hope. Not only does your participation help to magnify mental health awareness and raise funds for NAMI’s programs, but NAMIWalks are excellent events to come out and engage as part of your community!

Consider being a sponsor and setting up a table with information on your site along with information on the mental illnesses that your site specializes in. This is a great way to bring the community together, offering site resources, and building trust within the community!

Find your state's NAMIWalks event HERE and team up with the mental health advocates in your community! ❤

This webinar will discuss the possibilities of well-functioning recovery spaces, including concerns and benefits of alternative recovery spaces, how families can support their loved ones’ independence and recovery, and the role peers could potentially play in well-functioning recovery spaces as our world is increasingly open to addressing mental illness and/or substance use disorder. 

Sustaining a strong family-run organization requires more than passion—it demands a strategic and diversified funding approach. In this session, we will discuss how to procure sustainable funding at the state and national level. Presenters will offer practical strategies for aligning with state priorities, staying mission-driven, and building sustainable infrastructure. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to strengthen and diversify funding in their own organizations.

Join APA May 17-21 for five days in LA for five days of in-person learning, networking, and profession-moving engagement. In addition to the in-person event, the Virtual Annual Meeting will feature live-streams of 100+ select sessions, all accessible from the comfort of your home or office, or anywhere with a secure internet connection.

Mark your calendar! Join us May 14-15 in Washington, D.C., for S&PAA's 2nd annual SPRING Summit! The Summit brings together people with schizophrenia, caregivers, clinicians, researchers and others for two days of panel sessions, workshops and collaboration as we continue to activate our Roadmap to Recovery. Join us at the only forum specifically dedicated to the needs of the schizophrenia community and designed to identify actionable solutions. Click here to sign up to receive the invitation with the full agenda, reception info, speakers and a registration link.

The 2025 ASCP Annual Meeting will be held May 27-30 2025 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona. This year's theme is 'Navigating the Evolution of Clinical Psychiatry: When is Newer Better?' The Late-Breaking Posters submission deadline is March 28, 2025. More info on 2025 ASCP Annual Meeting here.

At NAMICon 2025, we’re meeting you where you are—whether at home, at work, or on your unique mental health journey. Held virtually from June 11-13, this year’s conference is your chance to connect, inspire, and drive meaningful change. NAMICon is where hundreds of dynamic and important voices unite to improve mental health for all through mental health awareness, education and advocacy. 

At BIO 2025 you can access more than 100 sessions across 18 focus areas with discussions from leading biotechnology companies, investors, service providers, government officials, regulators, and patient advocates committed to ground-breaking therapies and innovation.. Join us June 16-19 in Boston. 

The Mental Health America 2025 Conference will be held October 16-17 in Washington D.C. and will explore the theme "Turn Awareness Into Action". The conference will bring together experts, innovators, and advocates who are implementing strategies that work — approaches that improve mental health care, expand access, and create lasting change. The 2025 Call for Proposals is open. For more information and to submit a proposal, click here.

The mission of the STARR Coalition is to create meaningful change by increasing COMMUNICATION, PARTNERSHIPS, and GOODWILL among stakeholders in the areas of mental health clinical research, advocacy, and treatment with emphasis on community and advocacy engagement, stigma reduction, and ensuring that research is widely recognized as a trusted care option. ❤

Thank you for reading!

If you have questions, comments, or would like to submit an item to be included in an upcoming newsletter, please email erica@thestarr.org.