🗓️ All proposals must be submitted by 5 p.m. ET, Jan 31, 2023.
General Rules
- All submissions must be made through this website.
- Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
- Use inclusive and respectful language in session descriptions and presentations.
- Ensure that your presenters and your session content includes a diversity of experience, perspectives and points of view.
- No session is allowed to spotlight a company, product or service.
- If your proposal is selected, you must be available to present at any time during NAMICon. We cannot accept requests to change assigned session dates & times.
Audience
NAMICon attendees are wide-ranging and include individuals with mental illness, caregivers and family members, mental health providers and NAMI grassroots leaders.
NAMI endeavors to include and thread justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) throughout all the programs, services and presentations of the organization.
Your proposal must consider and explain how JEDI and/or cultural competence will be addressed or demonstrated in your presentation. It should be clearly stated in the workshop description, objectives and recommendations.
Additionally, NAMI is seeking workshop proposals from subject matter experts experienced in matters of social justice, racial/ethnic identity and equity-minded practice.
Ensure your subject matter addresses the varied experiences, backgrounds, cultures and identities of our convention attendees.
Program Tracks
1. Culture and identity in mental health
These workshops will explore how to promote equitable mental and emotional support for underserved communities. NAMI is seeking workshop proposals from subject matter experts experienced in matters of social justice, racial and ethnic identity, and equity-minded practice. Proposal topics could include:
- How mental health disparities have created barriers for marginalized and under-resourced groups
- Mental well-being for boys and men of color
- Mental health services in rural communities
- How to reduce barriers to care
- How to promote culturally competent mental health care
2. Crisis response and intervention
How do current responses to mental health crises affect individuals, families and communities? The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launched in July 2022. How has that changed the landscape? What are the next steps? Topics could include:
- Crisis response models
- National, state, and local funding
- Best practice models for mobile crisis units
- Barriers to care for people of color
- Decriminalization of mental illness
3. Workplace mental health
These workshops will explore strategic opportunities to partner with employers on the many ways to effectively address mental health at work given its bottom-line impact on productivity, performance, recruitment, retention, and so much more. Proposal topics could include:
- Stigma reduction is essential but what else is needed in creating psychological safety at work?
- What are the ingredients for creating mentally healthy organizational cultures?
- How do organizations tackle escalating rates of burnout and mental health concerns in young adults?
- What policies and practices best support employees with mental health conditions at work?
- What innovative practices are needed to improve access to mental health care services and supports in the workplace?
4. Youth and young adult mental health
What do we know about and how can we better respond to the unique mental health concerns of youth and young adults? How can NAMI adapt to the emerging needs of new generations? Topics could include:
- Navigating education, employment, housing and health care systems
- The mental health needs of first-generation college students
- The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young adult mental health
- Mobile crisis teams for children
- Addressing trauma in children and adolescents
5. Innovations in research and treatment
The latest research and developments in mental health. From neurobiology to virtual peer support, what are the trends, data and discoveries that will shape how we view and treat mental illness in the near future? Topics could include:
- Specific mental illnesses, including mood disorders, serious mental illnesses (SMIs), trauma, PTSD and psychosis
- Treatments, such as crisis care/hospitalization
- Situations that affect people with mental illness, such as law enforcement response to mental health crises
6. Best practices for state organizations and affiliates
What are the emerging and established best practices that can help NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates build their capacity? What practical lessons have you learned that you can share with your peers across the country? Topics could include:
- Grassroots and grasstops advocacy
- Cross-cultural community engagement
- Effective fundraising and donor development
- Developing a more effective Board of Directors
- Building partnerships with businesses and government
Session Formats
1. Impact Sessions
- A presentation on a topic, a small panel discussion, or an interactive discussion with the audience
- 60 minutes, including at least 15 minutes of Q&A
- 1–3 presenters
2. Express Talks
- First-hand experiences and real-life examples and advice
- 5-10 minutes video recording
- Open licensed and submitted prior to NAMICon 2023
3. Flash Sessions
- Streamlined format for highlighting how-tos, innovations or new practices in mental health
- 30 minutes, including at least 10 minutes of Q&A
Review Criteria and Selection
Unfortunately, given limited space and time, we can’t accept all submissions.
A committee of NAMI subject matter experts review and grade all submissions. We select the proposals that best meet our criteria:
1. Attendees
- Will the content be compelling and interesting to our audience?
- Does the proposal address contemporary topics in an interesting way?
- Will the session actively engage the audience?
2. Presenter
- Does the presenter have relevant knowledge, experience, and expertise?
3. Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI)
- Does the proposal include diverse voices and perspectives, both in terms of presenters and subject matter?
- Does the proposal enrich attendees’ understanding of diverse cultures, identities, experiences, and backgrounds?
4. Proposal
- Does the proposal have clear and easy-to-understand learning objectives?
- Does the proposal fit well in the selected convention track?
- Does the proposal align with and advance NAMI’s strategy and policy priorities?
We do not provide guidance or suggestions to individual submitters.
Some sessions — including keynote speakers and invited presentations — are determined solely by NAMI. These sessions are not part of the regular Call for Proposals process.
Sharing Your Presentation Resources
Presenters are required to upload related resources (for example, documents or links) prior to their presentation.
These resources provide support for the presentation and then become a part of the NAMICon proceedings so that this valuable information is accessible beyond the session.
If your proposal is selected, you will be provided with instructions on uploading your presentation materials.
Accept or Decline Notifications
We will notify all you about the status of your submission by March 1, 2023.
Accepted Proposals And Presenter Registration
All accepted Impact Session and Express Talk presenters are entitled to an exclusive speaker registration rate.
All accepted presenters are responsible for registering for the convention by the Early Bird registration date and paying their convention registration fee. Plan and budget accordingly before submitting your proposal.
We do not reimburse speaker-related expenses, online tools, assessments, books or other presentation materials.